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First Principles Thinking

287 points · 138 comments · sunils34

  1. ripvanwinkle · · focus · HN ↗
    I've been using codex to design and build a product that is a fairly conventional looking app - think of a gmail like experience - with some delicate synchronization across devices.

    I find that I need to invest a whole lot in high level design myself to get Codex to create a suitable architecture and make the right tradeoffs. It's more like I am designing and Codex is reviewing and occasionally we brainstorm. When I tried having it design based on requirements, it went wild with an unsustainable design / architecture.

    And I use things like plan mode etc. My experience is unlike what I read in most vibe coding exploits.

    I wonder if I am doing something wrong. Is there a good canonical example of a project built with Codex or even Claude Code that shows how the human and AI interact that I could use as a reference

    1. jeef_berky · · focus · HN ↗
      I've been on a similar path, and I used to put time in high level design, as it was basically required in some cases. But not a lot of time, because smaller agents research, perform small tests, whatever to inform the high level design. Working incrementally seems to help, maybe prompting a bit more often, but the same can be accomplished with well defined checkpoints.

      Then generalize + standardize that process, get an agent to replace you as high level designer so you can manage a team of high level designers, etc etc

      1. ripvanwinkle · · focus · HN ↗
        what plan level are you on
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