Lesson 918 of 2116
Read The Diff Like A Detective
The diff is where AI mistakes become visible: unrelated files, deleted guards, changed defaults, and tests that were edited to pass.
Lesson map
What this lesson covers
Learning path
The main moves in order
- 1Read The Diff Like A Detective
- 2git diff
- 3review
- 4regression
Concept cluster
Terms to connect while reading
Section 1
Read The Diff Like A Detective
The diff is where AI mistakes become visible: unrelated files, deleted guards, changed defaults, and tests that were edited to pass.
- 1Name the job before naming the tool.
- 2Write the smallest useful scope the agent can finish.
- 3Run the result as a user, not as a fan of the tool.
- 4Inspect the diff, data access, and failure path before sharing.
Use this as the working prompt or checklist for the lesson.
Review a diff and label every hunk: intended, harmless, suspicious, or reject. Ask the agent to explain only the suspicious hunks.- What should the user be able to do when this is finished?
- What data should the app or agent never expose?
- What test proves the change works?
- What rollback path exists if the output is wrong?
Key terms in this lesson
End-of-lesson quiz
Check what stuck
15 questions · Score saves to your progress.
Tutor
Curious about “Read The Diff Like A Detective”?
Ask anything about this lesson. I’ll answer using just what you’re reading — short, friendly, grounded.
Progress saved locally in this browser. Sign in to sync across devices.
Related lessons
Keep going
Creators · 14 min
Always Ask What Changed
Vibe builders can modify many files at once. Asking for the diff summary trains you to notice accidental rewrites before they become permanent. Write the smallest useful scope the agent can finish.
Creators · 14 min
Coding Agents Are Junior Teammates With Fast Hands
A coding agent can edit, run tests, and recover from errors. It still needs scope, review, and a human who understands the system.
Creators · 14 min
Branch, Commit, PR: Give Agents Rails
A branch isolates the experiment. A commit records the claim. A PR gives humans a review surface.