How does a coding agent differ from a chat that suggests code?
Answer out loud or in your head first, then compare.
Answer
A coding agent can work with the project's environment: read files, propose and make changes, run commands and use their results in later steps. In an ordinary chat I often just paste a snippet and get a text suggestion.
More capability means more responsibility. An agent can change the wrong file, weaken a test or run an unsuitable command. So I set the scope, review the code diffs and verify the result myself. An extra agent or subagent is another worker with its own scope and context; more workers don't guarantee a better result.
Why it matters: The role requires steering the tool's work, not just writing prompts.
Possible follow-ups: What would you check before letting an agent edit an unfamiliar repo?
How did it go? Be honest — “Not yet” puts the question on your review list.
Further reading
- Claude Code: Create custom subagents(opens in a new tab)Docs; accessed 22.10.2026. Separate context, tools and permissions; details depend on the mode.