The Big Three
Model - The Intelligence Layer
Choose the right model for each task. Opus for planning, Sonnet for implementation, Haiku for execution.
Prompt - The Instruction Layer
Spec prompts with verification commands beat vague instructions every time.
Context - The Knowledge Layer
Minimum viable context. Compress at boundaries. Recent matters more than old.
Debugging Order
- Is the MODEL capable? Test directly.
- Is the PROMPT specific? Read it as the agent.
- Is the CONTEXT sufficient? Check what the agent sees.