No Coding Before 10am
michaelxbloch.substack.com
February 15, 2026
4 min read
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44/100
Summary
A startup has restructured its operations due to advancements in AI tools like Claude Code and Codex. The new rule implemented is that no coding occurs before 10am, reflecting a shift in engineering culture.
Key Takeaways
- A startup has implemented a new rule of no coding before 10am, focusing on team alignment and prompt drafting instead.
- The engineering approach has shifted to prioritize AI agents as the primary users, with systems designed for agent interaction rather than human coding.
- Objectives and constraints are defined before building, emphasizing outcome specifications over traditional process specifications.
- Code reviews are replaced by testing outputs against objectives, eliminating the need for detailed code inspections.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- AI has significant capabilities for coding, and many are beginning to incorporate it into their daily workflows, indicating a growing acceptance and utility of AI tools.
- The emphasis on optimizing workflows is a reminder of good engineering practices that have existed prior to AI, highlighting the importance of thoughtful coding.
Concerns
- The current AI models are not yet capable enough for novel applications, leading to reduced velocity and higher costs when integrated into coding processes.
- Relying on AI agents to work autonomously may result in inefficiencies, as they often struggle to solve issues without human intervention, indicating limitations in their capabilities.
