Capture the Reasoning Path, Not the Final State
The article discusses the importance of documenting the reasoning path in software development, particularly when using AI coding agents. It emphasizes that traditional documentation often captures only the final state, missing critical insights into the decision-making process. By implementing a structured approach to documentation, developers can ensure that the rationale behind decisions is preserved for future reference and debugging.
- ▪Most documentation captures only the final state, neglecting the reasoning behind decisions.
- ▪The author proposes a two-file system for documentation: CHANGES.md for chronological logs and narrative files for broader project arcs.
- ▪This approach helps maintain a record of rejected alternatives and the verification process, which is crucial for future debugging.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
try { if(localStorage) { let currentUser = localStorage.getItem('current_user'); if (currentUser) { currentUser = JSON.parse(currentUser); if (currentUser.id === 3908081) { document.getElementById('article-show-container').classList.add('current-user-is-article-author'); } } } } catch (e) { console.error(e); } Nic Lydon Posted on May 19 Capture the Reasoning Path, Not the Final State #ai #productivity #documentation #devops Two files, one discipline, and a measured 10-13% of my Claude Code budget.
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