---
title: More than just code review
link: https://simonwillison.net/2026/Aug/22/more-than-just-code-review/
source: simon-willison
published: 2026-08-22T15:56:54Z
updated: 2026-08-22T15:56:54Z
first_seen: 2026-09-02T14:07:29.769486161Z
tags:
- code-review
- coding-agents
- generative-ai
- agentic-engineering
- ai
- llms
summary: 'The key skill required to make productive use of coding agents is being able to confidently instruct them on how to make changes and then confidently verify that those changes have been applied in the correct way. Sometimes this involves reviewing every line of code they have written, but there are other ways to achieve that goal. Eyeballing every line of code has never been the most effective way to validate a change to a piece of software. Tags: code-review, coding-agents, generative-ai, agentic-engineering, ai, llms'
content: feed
html: 2026-08-22-more-than-just-code-review.html
---

The key skill required to make productive use of coding agents is being able to confidently instruct them on how to make changes and then confidently verify that those changes have been applied in the correct way.

Sometimes this involves reviewing every line of code they have written, but there are other ways to achieve that goal. Eyeballing every line of code has never been the most effective way to validate a change to a piece of software.

Tags: [code-review](https://simonwillison.net/tags/code-review), [coding-agents](https://simonwillison.net/tags/coding-agents), [generative-ai](https://simonwillison.net/tags/generative-ai), [agentic-engineering](https://simonwillison.net/tags/agentic-engineering), [ai](https://simonwillison.net/tags/ai), [llms](https://simonwillison.net/tags/llms)