With coding agents, specs feel more like source code
The role of source code is evolving as coding agents become more integrated into the development process. Developers are increasingly focusing on specifications and documentation, as the quality of the output from coding agents heavily relies on the clarity of these documents. This shift emphasizes the importance of clear communication and detailed specifications in software development.
- ▪The traditional model of coding has shifted from human-written source code to a process that begins with a spec document.
- ▪Developers are now spending more time on prompts and specifications rather than just writing code.
- ▪A vague specification can lead to incorrect assumptions by coding agents, resulting in products that may not meet the intended requirements.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The shift I didn’t expectThe more I use coding agents, the less source code feels like the thing I personally write.I know. Strange sentence from someone with a computer science background.At university, the model was clean: humans write source code, the compiler turns it into machine code, and the final product runs from there. Source code was the serious artifact. You shaped it, reviewed it, argued over it, maintained it.That model is still true. It just feels incomplete now.In my day-to-day work with agents, the thing I keep touching is the spec. The PRD. The design note. The acceptance criteria.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Yushi's Blog.
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