Answers
Short, direct answers for builders deciding what belongs in intent.md before an AI coding agent starts. Each one answers a single question and points to the next step.
Start here
How do I stop AI agents from building the wrong thing?
Put the product decision in intent.md before implementation: the objective, observable outcomes, hard constraints, edge cases, and concrete verification.
Pathmode + Cursor / Claude Code: how do I give my coding agent intent?
Put an IntentSpec in intent.md beside the code. Pathmode's MCP server reads that repo-bound decision before Cursor or Claude Code starts building.
What should I give an AI coding agent before it builds a feature?
Give it a reviewed intent.md in the repository: objective, observable outcomes, hard constraints, edge cases, scope where needed, and concrete verification.
More answers
How do I turn customer feedback into a spec an agent can build?
Use feedback as evidence for an agent-drafted IntentSpec, then have a human confirm the outcome and commit the authorized decision as intent.md.
Pathmode vs writing PRDs by hand
A PRD explains a product decision to people. intent.md gives the repository a compact, versioned decision an AI coding agent can repeatedly build and verify against.
Pathmode vs raw prompts (vibe coding)
Raw prompts optimize the current turn. A repo-bound IntentSpec preserves an authorized product decision across sessions, branches, agents, and review.
What belongs in a spec before engineering starts?
Before implementation, clear six readiness gates: a meaningful title, specific objective, testable outcomes, hard constraints, edge cases, and concrete verification.
Pathmode vs spec-kit and BMAD
Spec Kit and BMAD provide broad agent workflows. Pathmode focuses on a portable product-decision artifact, deterministic readiness, and the evidence and review behind it.
Check whether your intent is ready.
Run six deterministic checks on your intent.md. Free, local, and no account required.