Retype the changes an agent made to your feature

They inspect the key edits from an agent-built feature and type them in themselves to better understand the code.

Done with Custom agent· Intermediate· Nov 2026

What they did
After a custom-built agent produced a new feature, fcoury used a skill that duplicated the starting branch and surfaced the changes that mattered most, while leaving out imports and other boilerplate. They then entered each important edit manually in an editor so they could learn the implementation more deeply. They also experimented with asking targeted questions about particular diffs and with prompts that left gaps to fill.
How it went
This approach was useful when the work was critical, but it was too slow to become a regular habit. The question-and-gap versions helped some, and they are still searching for better ways and more research.
Tips
Use this for features where understanding the code matters more than speed. For smaller changes, the extra time probably outweighs the benefit.

Try it yourself with Claude Code

I just had you build [feature name] on [branch name]. Please compare that work with a fresh copy of [base branch] and send me only the diffs that matter most, one chunk at a time. Leave out imports and other routine changes, and add a brief note on why each chunk is important. Don’t edit any files; I’ll type each chunk myself. Wait for me to say 'next' before you continue, and stop for my approval before anything irreversible such as sending, submitting, deleting, or paying.

Fill in the [brackets]. Agents can make mistakes, so review anything before it is sent, paid or deleted.

Read the original on news.ycombinator.com ↗

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