In this episode, Ryan and Luca dive into their real-world AI coding workflows, sharing the tricks, tools, and hard-learned lessons from their daily development work. They compare their approaches to using AI agents like Claude Code and discuss everything from prompt management to context hygiene. Luca reveals his meticulous TDD approach with multiple AI instances running in parallel, while Ryan shares his more streamlined VS Code-based workflow.

The conversation covers practical topics like managing AI forgetfulness, avoiding the pitfalls of over-mocking in tests, and the importance of being strict with AI-generated code. They also explore the addictive, game-like nature of AI-assisted coding and why it feels like playing Civilization - always "just one more turn" until the sun comes up. This is an honest look at what actually works (and what doesn't) when coding with AI assistants.

Key Topics:

• [02:30] Tool preferences: Command line vs VS Code for AI coding
• [05:45] Prompt management strategies and the ginormous prompt problem
• [08:15] Context management and AI forgetfulness over time
• [12:00] Luca's three-option planning approach to avoid first-thought bias
• [15:30] Test-driven development with AI: Why it's essential and how to do it right
• [20:45] The mocking problem: When AI tests interfaces instead of functionality
• [25:00] Running multiple AI instances in parallel for complex projects
• [30:15] The Civilization effect: Why AI coding becomes addictively engaging
• [35:00] Code hygiene and post-generation cleanup strategies

Notable Quotes:

"I've learned the hard way that you must not do that. I was like, oh, this is really nice. I wrote like 10,000 lines of code this week. You know I'm fantastically productive and then I paid for it by going over those same 10,000 lines for the next three weeks and cleaning up the mess that it had made." — Luca Ingianni

"I must use TDD if I use AI coding. Otherwise it's so easy to get off the rails." — Luca Ingianni

"I don't have to code with the shift key ever again." — Ryan Torvik

"Coding with AI assist just feels exactly the same way for me [as Civilization]. It just sort of sucks you in." — Luca Ingianni

"Make sure that your AI coding agent doesn't tie your shoelaces together. Because it will." — Ryan Torvik

Resources Mentioned:

• ADA - Open source command line AI coding tool mentioned by Luca
• Claude Code - AI coding assistant used by both hosts, available as command line tool and VS Code extension
• Continue.dev - AI coding assistant mentioned by Ryan as one he tried early on
• RueCode - AI coding tool with task management features that Ryan used before switching to Claude Code

Connect With Us:

• Try implementing TDD with your AI coding workflow - start small with just 3 tests at a time
• Create your own prompt management system - whether it's a prompts.md file or slash commands
• Share your own AI coding workflows and tricks with us - we'd love to hear what's working for you