Start Here — Build Safely With AI•Start Here — Build Safely With AI•11 min lesson

Your First Agent Session

How to run your first Claude Code or AI-agent build session without letting it spiral into a mystery code dump.

AI-toolsbeginnersagent-workflowhands-on

Copy-ready prompt

"I am on my first real AI-agent coding session.
Project: [describe project]
Current goal: [describe one small feature]
Tooling available: [Claude Code / Cursor / Codex / editor agent / terminal agent / browser preview / database / deployment]
Model available: [current model if known]

Before changing code:
1. explain the safest approach in plain English
2. list the files you expect to change
3. tell me if this request is still too big
4. define the exact stopping point for this session
5. tell me whether this needs a goal, deeper planning, a stronger model, a loop, MCP, a subagent, or browser control -- and justify any yes

Then implement only that one small feature.

Afterward:
6. tell me exactly what changed
7. tell me how to test it in under two minutes
8. run only the agreed verification
9. tell me what you deliberately did not touch
10. stop so I can review before the next step

Do not add auth, deployment, payments, or unrelated cleanup."

Prompt FAQ

Questions to answer before you paste it

When should I use the Your First Agent Session prompt?

How to run your first Claude Code or AI-agent build session without letting it spiral into a mystery code dump. Use it when you need a safer starting point than a blank prompt and you want the agent to stay inside explicit constraints.

Should I paste this prompt exactly as written?

No. Treat it as a safe starter. Replace the task, files, constraints, and verification details with your actual context before you run it.

What should I do after the agent answers?

Read the diff, run the checks, and stop after one reviewable step. If you need deeper context, open the lesson that explains the reasoning behind the prompt.

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