Before the agent starts
Link the request to a durable spec, state the task objective, limit implementation target paths, and name the validation command. Escalate ambiguity instead of letting the agent silently widen scope.
Answer page
A concise checklist for handing an implementation task to a coding agent and receiving work back with usable evidence.
Direct answer
Before handoff, give the agent one task with a clear objective, scoped paths, acceptance criteria, and executable validation. At return, require changed-paths, validation results, unresolved risks, and a reconciliation decision, not a prose claim that the work is done.
Practical guidance
Link the request to a durable spec, state the task objective, limit implementation target paths, and name the validation command. Escalate ambiguity instead of letting the agent silently widen scope.
Ask for an implementation summary that names the files changed, validation actually run, and unresolved items. This is the minimum input a human reviewer needs to decide what to inspect.
Review the summary against the task definition, then reconcile completed tasks against the milestone criteria. A failed or missing check remains a visible follow-up rather than disappearing in a new chat.
Verified demo evidence
Repository-writing command
Prompt: "Create implementation-sized tasks from the selected milestone plan."
outcome: Created 2 declared tasks and implementation summariesAuthorship and sources
Keep exploring
A practical coding-agent workflow from durable intent to scoped tasks, validation evidence, human review, and cross-session handoff. See where Day Shift fits.
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