About This Guide
Nine articles. One trajectory. From writing your first AI-assisted line of code to orchestrating autonomous development systems.
What This Is
Conger is a structured guide to AI-assisted software development. It covers the tools, techniques, and mental models you need to work effectively with AI coding assistants — particularly Claude Code, though many principles apply broadly.
Each article builds on the last. The first few cover fundamentals that every developer should know. The later pieces dive into advanced patterns like autonomous agents, MCP integrations, and the strategic shifts reshaping how software gets built.
The Progression
Articles 1–2: Foundations
What AI coding assistants are, how to use them effectively, and the Plan-Review-Iterate workflow that separates productive developers from those who struggle with AI tools.
Articles 3–5: Applied Skills
Hands-on with Claude Code, mastering the art of context management, and using AI as a testing and quality assurance partner. These are the skills that make you measurably more productive.
Articles 6–9: Expert Territory
Advanced Claude Code features (plan mode, sub-agents), MCP server integrations, autonomous agent patterns, and the strategic view of where software engineering is headed.
Who It's For
This guide is written for developers — from those just starting to explore AI-assisted coding to experienced engineers looking to understand advanced patterns and the broader industry shift.
You don't need prior experience with AI tools. Start at Article 1 and work through sequentially. If you're already comfortable with the basics, skip ahead to wherever the content matches your current level.
Perspective
The field of AI-assisted development moves fast. The tools, best practices, and even the mental models are evolving. This guide reflects the state of the art as of early 2026 — a moment when agentic coding has gone from novelty to standard practice at many organizations.
The goal isn't to be a comprehensive reference manual. It's to give you the right mental models and practical skills to work effectively with AI, and to adapt as the tools continue to evolve.