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Agentic Coding

Episode 3. Practical Agentic Coding Guide for Junior Developers

7.675min
Agentic CodingJunior DeveloperPractical GuideClaude Opus 4.6Agent Teams

A practical guide to agentic coding using Claude Opus 4.6 and Agent Teams, explained step by step for junior developers. We'll help you work on your first project independently.

Episode 3. Practical Agentic Coding Guide for Junior Developers

Starting Practical Agentic Coding

Hello, fellow developers!
In the past two episodes, we learned about Claude Opus 4.6 and Agent Teams. In this final episode, we'll learn how to actually apply this to real projects.
When I was a junior developer, reading an article like this, I would have thought "So where do I actually start?" So today, I'll explain everything very specifically, step by step.

2026 Agentic Coding Trends

Software development is changing significantly in 2026. Let's first look at the key trends:

1. AI-First Development

Development is no longer "AI helping" but "AI at the center":
  • Ideas: Brainstorm with AI
  • Design: AI proposes architecture
  • Implementation: AI writes code
  • Testing: AI generates tests
  • Deployment: AI automates deployment
The developer's role is shifting from "coder" to "coordinator".

2. Opportunities for Junior Developers

These changes present great opportunities for junior developers:
  • Reduced Trial and Error: AI suggests best practices
  • Accelerated Learning: Quickly understand entire codebases
  • Improved Productivity: AI handles repetitive tasks
  • Focus Areas: Can focus more on business logic and user experience

Step-by-Step Getting Started Guide

Step 0: Preparation

You need some preparation before starting.
Bash
# 1. Check Claude Code installation
claude --version
# 2. Enable Agent Teams
# Add to ~/.claude/settings.json
{
"agentTeams": {
"enabled": true,
"mode": "in-process",
"teamSize": 3
}
}
# 3. Select Opus 4.6
claude --model opus-4-6

Step 1: Start with a Simple Project

Don't try to do a complex project from the start. Start small.

Example: Building a TODO App

Bash
# New project directory
mkdir todo-app
cd todo-app
# Run Claude Code
claude
> I want to create a simple TODO app.
> Features: add, delete, mark complete
> Tech: React + TypeScript + Vite
Leveraging Opus 4.6's 1M Context:
As your project grows, you can use it like this:
Bash
> Analyze the entire codebase and suggest refactoring.
> Summarize the structure and improvement points of this project.
With 1M token context, you can analyze the entire project at once.

Step 2: Parallel Work with Agent Teams

When your project grows a bit, try using Agent Teams.
Bash
# Request task from Team Lead
> I need to implement this REST API.
> Need /users, /posts, /comments endpoints.
> Process in parallel using Agent Teams.
# Team Lead automatically distributes work
# Teammate 1: /users
# Teammate 2: /posts
# Teammate 3: /comments
Actual Workflow:
Loading diagram...

Step 3: Real Project Example

Let's see how it's actually used.

Scenario: Blog Backend API Development

Bash
# 1. Describe overall requirements
> I need to develop a blog backend API.
> - User authentication (JWT)
> - Post CRUD
> - Comment system
> - Tags and search
> - Tech stack: Node.js + Express + PostgreSQL + Prisma
# 2. Design overall architecture with Opus 4.6
> Design the overall project structure.
> Include DB schema, API routes, middleware.
# 3. Parallel development with Agent Teams
> Develop each feature in parallel using Agent Teams.
Example of Team Lead's Task Distribution:
TeammateResponsibilityTasks
LeadOverall CoordinationArchitecture design, API documentation
Teammate 1AuthJWT implementation, user model, auth middleware
Teammate 2PostsPost model, CRUD API, search functionality
Teammate 3CommentsComment model, comment API, tag system

Tips for Junior Developers

1. Start Small

Don't try to do complex things from the start.
Bash
# Good start
> Create a simple calculator app.
# Too complex start (not recommended)
> Create a large-scale e-commerce platform with microservices architecture.

2. Learn How to Ask

How you ask AI is really important.
Bash
# Bad question
> Write code.
# Good question
> I want to create a TODO app with React and TypeScript.
> Features needed: add, delete, mark complete.
> Start with Vite and design the component structure.

3. Understand the Code

Even if AI writes the code, don't just use it as-is. Make sure you understand it.
Bash
> Explain how this code works.
> Why did you implement it this way?
> Is there another way?

4. Write Tests

Ask AI to write tests together.
Bash
> Also write test code for this feature.
> Both unit tests and integration tests please.

Guide by Scenario

Scenario 1: Starting a New Project

Bash
# 1. Organize requirements
> [Project description]
# 2. Decide tech stack
> Recommend a tech stack for these requirements.
> Compare pros and cons.
# 3. Design project structure
> Design the project structure.
> Include folder structure and file organization.
# 4. Generate initial code
> Generate the basic code.
> Config files, basic components, etc.
# 5. Develop with Agent Teams
> Now develop each feature in parallel using Agent Teams.

Scenario 2: Adding Features to Existing Projects

Bash
# 1. Analyze entire codebase
> Analyze the structure of this project.
> Summarize key files and dependencies.
# 2. Identify where to add feature
> Where should this new feature be added?
> How should it integrate with existing code?
# 3. Implement
> Implement this feature.
> Following the existing style.
# 4. Test
> Also add tests for this feature.

Scenario 3: Bug Fixing

Bash
# 1. Reproduce bug
> Analyze why this bug occurs.
> [Error log]
# 2. Identify root cause
> What's the root cause?
> What needs to be fixed?
# 3. Suggest fix methods
> Suggest multiple fix approaches.
> Compare pros and cons of each.
# 4. Fix and test
> Fix it this way.
> Also add regression tests.

Best Practices

1. Gradual Adoption

Don't change everything at once. Adopt gradually.
Bash
# Week 1: Simple code generation
> Write this function.
# Week 2: File-level work
> Refactor this file.
# Week 3: Feature-level work
> Implement this feature.
# Week 4: Agent Teams usage
> Develop this project using Agent Teams.

2. Verify AI Results

Don't uncritically accept AI-generated code.
Bash
# Always ask these questions
> Are there any security issues with this code?
> How can I optimize performance?
> Are the tests sufficient?

3. Use for Learning

Treat AI as a learning partner, not just a tool.
Bash
> Why did you implement it this way?
> What's the name of this pattern?
> Is there a better way?
> Recommend documentation that explains this.

Common Mistakes

1. Too Much Dependency

Bash
# Bad example
Relying entirely on AI without understanding anything
# Good example
Understanding and verifying what AI writes

2. Insufficient Verification

Bash
# Bad example
Deploying AI code as-is
# Good example
Testing, reviewing, and verifying before deployment

3. Context-less Requests

Bash
# Bad example
> Fix the bug.
# Good example
> I'm getting a 500 error when users log in.
> Here's the error log, and the related code is in this file.

Getting Started Checklist

Before starting in practice, check these:
  • Claude Code installed
  • Agent Teams configured
  • Opus 4.6 model selected
  • First small project chosen
  • Requirements document written
  • Tech stack decided
  • Development environment set up
  • Git repository created

Next Steps

Now that you've read the entire series, you're ready!

Try It Now

  1. Simple Projects: TODO app, calculator, notepad
  2. Use Agent Teams: Develop 2-3 features in parallel
  3. Leverage Opus 4.6: Analyze entire codebase, refactoring suggestions

Keep Learning

Wrapping Up

Through this series, we've learned about Claude Opus 4.6 and Agent Teams features.
In Episode 1, we explored Opus 4.6's new features, in Episode 2, we learned Agent Teams concepts and usage, and in Episode 3, we learned how to apply them in practice.
As a junior developer, encountering such tools is both exciting and daunting. But what's important is practicing slowly and steadily.
Start today with a simple project. Small successes will lead to big growth before you know it. I'll be cheering you on!

References