Skip to content

Topical cluster

AI Agent Engineering

Everything about building production AI agent workflows. When to reach for a sub-agent versus a skill versus an MCP server, how to think about context window economics, what parallel agent dispatch actually costs, and the failure modes nobody mentions in the marketing deck.

14 postsFor: Engineers and operators building AI agent systems for real work

Go deeper

Tokens as a budget: SESSION_STATE and the paste handoff

AGENTS·APR 24·11 MIN

Tokens as a budget: SESSION_STATE and the paste handoff

A dialogue on running multi-day Claude Code builds without trashing your context. The SESSION_STATE pattern, the paste handoff, and when to compact.

READ →

Before 60 writer agents ship: grep your MDX component props

AGENTS·APR 24·12 MIN

Before 60 writer agents ship: grep your MDX component props

An MDX component audit I now run before dispatching parallel writer agents. Five greps catch the prop drift and parse hazards that shipped silently.

READ →

Token budget math for Claude Code: what 104K per task means

AGENTS·APR 23·7 MIN

Token budget math for Claude Code: what 104K per task means

Field notes on Claude Code token budgets. The 200K context is not 200K of workspace. Real numbers on system prompt, tool defs, and working set.

READ →

Prompt caching economics: when the 5-minute TTL pays rent

AGENTS·APR 23·7 MIN

Prompt caching economics: when the 5-minute TTL pays rent

Field notes on Claude prompt caching economics. Real numbers on the 5-minute TTL, 1-hour option, and the looped workflows where caching is rounding-error.

READ →

Parallel versus sequential agent dispatch: the real tradeoffs

AGENTS·APR 23·7 MIN

Parallel versus sequential agent dispatch: the real tradeoffs

A decision log for parallel versus sequential agent dispatch. When parallel wins, when it loses, and the coordination cost nobody mentions.

READ →

MCP vs skills vs tools: picking the right Claude extension

AGENTS·APR 23·7 MIN

MCP vs skills vs tools: picking the right Claude extension

A decision log for MCP vs Claude skills vs plain tool calls. Six criteria, three columns, and the lifecycle test that settles most picks.

READ →

MCP server architecture: when to build one versus use a skill

AGENTS·APR 23·8 MIN

MCP server architecture: when to build one versus use a skill

A pattern library for MCP server architecture. Three transport choices, four real workload shapes, and the test for when MCP is the wrong tool.

READ →

Git worktrees for parallel agents: the isolation pattern

AGENTS·APR 23·8 MIN

Git worktrees for parallel agents: the isolation pattern

A pattern library for using git worktrees to isolate parallel Claude Code agents. Three instances, the setup script, and the file-ownership rule.

READ →

When to spawn a Claude Code sub-agent versus a tool call

AGENTS·APR 23·8 MIN

When to spawn a Claude Code sub-agent versus a tool call

A decision log for when to spawn a Claude Code sub-agent versus just making a tool call. Four signals, three real examples, and the dispatch math.

READ →

Building your first Claude skill: the five-file template

AGENTS·APR 23·8 MIN

Building your first Claude skill: the five-file template

A hands-on tutorial for building your first Claude skill. Five files, one working skill, every decision explained without the theory.

READ →

Background agents with run_in_background: when it pays off

AGENTS·APR 23·6 MIN

Background agents with run_in_background: when it pays off

A tutorial on Claude Code background agents via run_in_background. When to use it, what breaks in foreground, and the three commands I always background.

READ →

Agent teams for code review: the parallel-reviewer pattern

AGENTS·APR 23·7 MIN

Agent teams for code review: the parallel-reviewer pattern

A pattern library for running parallel agent code review. Three reviewers, one coordinator, and the file-ownership rule that makes it reliable.

READ →

Agent failure modes and the recovery patterns that keep shipping

AGENTS·APR 23·7 MIN

Agent failure modes and the recovery patterns that keep shipping

Field notes on Claude Code agent failure modes. Four repeatable failure shapes, the signals that tip me off early, and the recovery pattern for each.

READ →

Put this to work

Claude Code sub-agents, MCP servers, skills, and the orchestration stack.

> See the Operator's Stack

Let’s fix
some problems.

Instead of briefing four vendors, you work with one person across brand, code, infrastructure, compliance, and growth. You get dated receipts, published pricing, and an agent library you own after the engagement ends. You work with me directly. That’s kind of the whole point.

or email direct hello@michaeldishmon.com