From c6312ac35299e223d8dfbf39e92d7dd403bea8a5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: emily Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:40:17 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 1/3] new pattern 'follow-obvious-fix' --- documents/patterns/follow-obvious-fix.md | 29 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ documents/relationships.mmd | 7 +++++- website/config/authors.yaml | 4 ++++ 3 files changed, 39 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) create mode 100644 documents/patterns/follow-obvious-fix.md diff --git a/documents/patterns/follow-obvious-fix.md b/documents/patterns/follow-obvious-fix.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b742394 --- /dev/null +++ b/documents/patterns/follow-obvious-fix.md @@ -0,0 +1,29 @@ +--- +authors: [emilybache] +--- + +# Follow Obvious Fix +## Problem +Build tools, package managers, linters, and compilers often provide an explicit next step to resolve a failure. + +Rather than wasting focus and tokens trying to assess options, follow the suggested fix. Especially if it is low-risk and purely "infrastructure" (deps, tooling, environment). + +## Pattern +If the error message contains a suggested fix, do that first—*when it’s low-risk and tool/infrastructure-focused*. + +Guidelines: +- Prefer suggestions that are **reversible** and **don’t touch core business logic**. +- Be cautious with suggestions that are **destructive** (deleting lockfiles, wiping caches broadly, resetting environments). +- After applying the suggestion, **re-run the original command**. Continue based on the new output. + +## Example +Error message: + +> Could not find the proper version of rake (13.3.1) in any of the sources. +> Run 'bundle install' to install missing gems. + +Do the suggested fix first: + + bundle install + +Then re-run the original command. If it still fails, you now have a more current error to act on—without unnecessary guesswork. diff --git a/documents/relationships.mmd b/documents/relationships.mmd index 919ccd9..2c100e8 100644 --- a/documents/relationships.mmd +++ b/documents/relationships.mmd @@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ graph LR patterns/active-partner -->|solves| anti-patterns/flying-blind patterns/feedback-loop -->|solves| anti-patterns/flying-blind patterns/constrained-tests -->|solves| anti-patterns/flying-blind + patterns/follow-obvious-fix -->|solves| obstacles/keeping-up + patterns/follow-obvious-fix -->|solves| obstacles/hallucinations patterns/habit-hooks -->|solves| obstacles/cannot-learn patterns/habit-hooks -->|solves| obstacles/context-rot patterns/hooks -->|solves| obstacles/selective-hearing @@ -75,8 +77,11 @@ graph LR patterns/approved-logs -->|uses| patterns/constrained-tests patterns/habit-hooks -->|uses| patterns/hooks patterns/habit-hooks -->|uses| patterns/feedback-loop + patterns/follow-obvious-fix -->|uses| patterns/feedback-loop patterns/feedback-loop <-->|similar| patterns/playgrounds patterns/feedback-loop <-->|similar| patterns/chain-of-small-steps + patterns/follow-obvious-fix <-->|similar| patterns/active-partner + patterns/follow-obvious-fix <-->|similar| patterns/offload-deterministic patterns/chain-of-small-steps <-->|similar| patterns/offload-deterministic patterns/happy-to-delete <-->|similar| patterns/parallel-implementations patterns/happy-to-delete <-->|similar| patterns/playgrounds @@ -106,4 +111,4 @@ graph LR obstacles/obedient-contractor -->|related| anti-patterns/silent-misalignment obstacles/compliance-bias -->|causes| anti-patterns/silent-misalignment obstacles/black-box-ai -->|causes| anti-patterns/silent-misalignment - obstacles/keeping-up -->|causes| anti-patterns/flying-blind \ No newline at end of file + obstacles/keeping-up -->|causes| anti-patterns/flying-blind diff --git a/website/config/authors.yaml b/website/config/authors.yaml index b5b5713..1824be3 100644 --- a/website/config/authors.yaml +++ b/website/config/authors.yaml @@ -14,3 +14,7 @@ nitsan_avni: steve_kuo: name: Steve Kuo github: kuoman +emilybache: + name: Emily Bache + github: emilybache + url: https://emilybache.com From 30b372004a443c4bed1e6a785975f8be348ce90e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: emily Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2026 14:22:46 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 2/3] additional information in "Feedback Loop" --- documents/patterns/feedback-loop.md | 6 ++++-- 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/documents/patterns/feedback-loop.md b/documents/patterns/feedback-loop.md index 89874a9..f97b30d 100644 --- a/documents/patterns/feedback-loop.md +++ b/documents/patterns/feedback-loop.md @@ -4,10 +4,12 @@ authors: [nitsan_avni] # Feedback Loop +Closely related: ["Engineer the Harness"](https://mitchellh.com/writing/my-ai-adoption-journey#step-5-engineer-the-harness) + ## Pattern -Set up automated feedback, give AI permission to iterate autonomously until goal is reached. +Set up automated feedback, give AI permission to iterate autonomously until a goal is reached. -1. Identify clear success signal (tests pass, UI matches design, coverage hits X%) +1. Identify a clear success signal (tests pass, UI matches design, coverage hits X%) 2. Give AI access to that signal (tests, devtools, linter, logs) 3. Grant explicit permission: "Keep iterating until tests pass" 4. Step away - AI checks its own work and keeps refining From 1815c3b0e383debd00273ed614237353d18f437e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: emily Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2026 14:24:10 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 3/3] Revert "new pattern 'follow-obvious-fix'" This reverts commit c6312ac35299e223d8dfbf39e92d7dd403bea8a5. --- documents/patterns/follow-obvious-fix.md | 29 ------------------------ documents/relationships.mmd | 7 +----- website/config/authors.yaml | 4 ---- 3 files changed, 1 insertion(+), 39 deletions(-) delete mode 100644 documents/patterns/follow-obvious-fix.md diff --git a/documents/patterns/follow-obvious-fix.md b/documents/patterns/follow-obvious-fix.md deleted file mode 100644 index b742394..0000000 --- a/documents/patterns/follow-obvious-fix.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,29 +0,0 @@ ---- -authors: [emilybache] ---- - -# Follow Obvious Fix -## Problem -Build tools, package managers, linters, and compilers often provide an explicit next step to resolve a failure. - -Rather than wasting focus and tokens trying to assess options, follow the suggested fix. Especially if it is low-risk and purely "infrastructure" (deps, tooling, environment). - -## Pattern -If the error message contains a suggested fix, do that first—*when it’s low-risk and tool/infrastructure-focused*. - -Guidelines: -- Prefer suggestions that are **reversible** and **don’t touch core business logic**. -- Be cautious with suggestions that are **destructive** (deleting lockfiles, wiping caches broadly, resetting environments). -- After applying the suggestion, **re-run the original command**. Continue based on the new output. - -## Example -Error message: - -> Could not find the proper version of rake (13.3.1) in any of the sources. -> Run 'bundle install' to install missing gems. - -Do the suggested fix first: - - bundle install - -Then re-run the original command. If it still fails, you now have a more current error to act on—without unnecessary guesswork. diff --git a/documents/relationships.mmd b/documents/relationships.mmd index 2c100e8..919ccd9 100644 --- a/documents/relationships.mmd +++ b/documents/relationships.mmd @@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ graph LR patterns/active-partner -->|solves| anti-patterns/flying-blind patterns/feedback-loop -->|solves| anti-patterns/flying-blind patterns/constrained-tests -->|solves| anti-patterns/flying-blind - patterns/follow-obvious-fix -->|solves| obstacles/keeping-up - patterns/follow-obvious-fix -->|solves| obstacles/hallucinations patterns/habit-hooks -->|solves| obstacles/cannot-learn patterns/habit-hooks -->|solves| obstacles/context-rot patterns/hooks -->|solves| obstacles/selective-hearing @@ -77,11 +75,8 @@ graph LR patterns/approved-logs -->|uses| patterns/constrained-tests patterns/habit-hooks -->|uses| patterns/hooks patterns/habit-hooks -->|uses| patterns/feedback-loop - patterns/follow-obvious-fix -->|uses| patterns/feedback-loop patterns/feedback-loop <-->|similar| patterns/playgrounds patterns/feedback-loop <-->|similar| patterns/chain-of-small-steps - patterns/follow-obvious-fix <-->|similar| patterns/active-partner - patterns/follow-obvious-fix <-->|similar| patterns/offload-deterministic patterns/chain-of-small-steps <-->|similar| patterns/offload-deterministic patterns/happy-to-delete <-->|similar| patterns/parallel-implementations patterns/happy-to-delete <-->|similar| patterns/playgrounds @@ -111,4 +106,4 @@ graph LR obstacles/obedient-contractor -->|related| anti-patterns/silent-misalignment obstacles/compliance-bias -->|causes| anti-patterns/silent-misalignment obstacles/black-box-ai -->|causes| anti-patterns/silent-misalignment - obstacles/keeping-up -->|causes| anti-patterns/flying-blind + obstacles/keeping-up -->|causes| anti-patterns/flying-blind \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/website/config/authors.yaml b/website/config/authors.yaml index 1824be3..b5b5713 100644 --- a/website/config/authors.yaml +++ b/website/config/authors.yaml @@ -14,7 +14,3 @@ nitsan_avni: steve_kuo: name: Steve Kuo github: kuoman -emilybache: - name: Emily Bache - github: emilybache - url: https://emilybache.com