Lesson 8 / 25
Small Steps and Iteration
Break work into small, reviewable changes and correct the assistant when it drifts.
Small diffs are reviewable
Asking for a whole feature at once often returns a large change that is hard to review and easy to get subtly wrong. Instead ask for one step at a time: the data model, then the function, then the endpoint, then the tests. Commit after each working step so you can undo easily. If the assistant goes in a wrong direction, say what is wrong and what to keep rather than starting over from scratch, and restart with a fresh chat if the conversation gets long and confused.
A step-by-step plan
Each step ends with something you can run and check.
Step 1 Add the Reminder model + migration -> run migration
Step 2 Write tests for create / list / delete -> tests fail (no code yet)
Step 3 Implement the service functions -> tests pass
Step 4 Add the REST endpoints -> curl each one
Step 5 Review the full diff, then commitQuick check: Why ask for a feature in small steps?
- It is required by Git
- Assistants cannot write large code
- Small changes are easier to review, test and undo
- It saves no time ever
Answer
Small changes are easier to review, test and undo — Large, unreviewed diffs hide mistakes; small verified steps keep you in control.