Agents
AI that takes action, not just responds.
An agent is an AI system that can do things — read files, edit documents, run commands — rather than just answer questions.
Chat vs. Agent
| Chat AI | Agent AI |
|---|---|
| Answers questions | Performs tasks |
| Output: text in a box | Output: changes to your files |
| You copy-paste results | AI applies changes directly |
| Stateless (each message is new) | Contextual (knows your project) |
When you use Claude Code, you're working with an agent. It doesn't just tell you what to do — it does it.
What Agents Can Do
Modern AI agents can:
- Read your files and understand context
- Edit documents directly
- Create new files
- Run terminal commands
- Search your codebase
- Ask clarifying questions
All with your approval before each action.
The Approval Loop
Agents don't act without permission. The typical flow:
- You give an instruction
- Agent analyzes what's needed
- Agent proposes an action
- You approve or reject
- Agent executes (or adjusts based on feedback)
- Repeat
This keeps you in control while letting AI do the heavy lifting.
Example Session
You: Check the grammar in chapter-1.md
Claude: I'll read chapter-1.md and check for grammar errors.
[Reads file]
I found 3 issues:
- Line 12: "industriel" → "industrial"
- Line 15: "transportaton" → "transportation"
- Line 23: "emphsized" → "emphasized"
Would you like me to fix these?
You: Yes
Claude: [Edits file]
Done. I've corrected all 3 spelling errors.
The agent read your file, identified issues, proposed changes, and executed them — all in one flow.
Why This Matters
The agent paradigm changes your relationship with AI:
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| You learn AI's limitations | AI learns your project |
| You adapt to AI's format | AI adapts to your workflow |
| You do the integration work | AI handles the mechanics |
You focus on what you want. The agent figures out how.
Available Agent Tools
| Tool | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | Terminal | Anthropic's CLI agent |
| Cursor | Editor | AI-integrated IDE |
| Windsurf | Editor | AI-first code editor |
| Aider | Terminal | Open-source alternative |
They all implement the same core idea: AI that acts, not just answers.
Next: Learn the AGENTS.md Pattern — how to give agents persistent instructions.