Sessions and Messages

Operate sessions effectively with clear prompts and review loops

Overview

Sessions are where agents execute your task instructions.

Message quality strongly affects output quality.

Prompting pattern that works

Use short, constrained instructions:

  • what to change
  • what must stay unchanged
  • how to validate
  • how to report back

During a run

  • Watch output for signs of scope drift.
  • Keep follow-up prompts narrow.
  • Ask for concise summaries after major edits.

After a run

Always move to diff review before deciding the task is complete.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing multiple unrelated asks in one message
  • Accepting completion claims without checking diff
  • Letting follow-up prompts broaden scope unintentionally