Task 1 · typically 180 min, every day
Write new features and the boilerplate around them
Hand well-scoped tasks to a coding agent and review its pull request
Coding agents like Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Cursor's agent and GitHub Copilot's coding agent can read the repo, make multi-file changes and run the tests. They do best on clear, bounded tasks you can review quickly.
- 1Check which coding agent your company approves and that it has access to the repo.
- 2Add a short instructions file to the repo (CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md or .cursor/rules) with how to build, test and the conventions to follow.
- 3Give it a ticket-sized task with acceptance criteria, using the prompt below.
- 4Let it run the tests; read the diff as carefully as a colleague's PR.
- 5Start with tests, refactors, small features and config changes before larger work.
Task: [WHAT TO BUILD OR CHANGE]. Context: [RELEVANT FILES OR MODULES]. Acceptance criteria: [LIST]. Constraints: follow the existing patterns in [EXAMPLE FILE], do not add new dependencies, do not change public APIs unless needed. First read the relevant code and give me a short plan. After I approve, make the change, add or update tests, run the test suite and linter, and summarize what you changed and anything you were unsure about.
Tools: Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot agent mode or Devin Desktop (ex-Windsurf)
One more way to fix itHide the other fixes
Turn on AI completions and inline chat in your editor
Inline suggestions and in-editor chat (Copilot, Cursor Tab, Devin Desktop (ex-Windsurf), JetBrains AI) remove a lot of typing for boilerplate, tests and small edits.
- 1Check which assistant your company licenses: GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Devin Desktop (ex-Windsurf) or JetBrains AI Assistant.
- 2Install the extension or editor and sign in with your work account.
- 3Use inline chat for "add error handling here" or "convert this to async" style edits.
- 4Accept suggestions only when you would have written the same thing.
Tools: GitHub Copilot · Cursor · Devin Desktop (ex-Windsurf) · JetBrains AI Assistant