Coding Agent Guide Package

Guide 09

Should the agent work on the server, or locally?

The right work location reduces risk. New code often belongs in the Git workflow, while environment and deployment issues must be investigated where the app runs.

Work locally or on a branch when

  • You are building new functionality.
  • You are changing design or text.
  • You are refactoring code.
  • You want review before the change goes live.

Work on the server when

  • The issue only happens in production or staging.
  • Dependencies, database, web server, or process manager must be configured.
  • You need safe runtime logs or service status.
  • You need to verify that deployment actually works.

If the server is messy

If the hosting environment has many manual changes that are not in Git, the agent should first document status and propose a safe cleanup. Do not overwrite an unclear production environment without backup and approval.

Good practice: let the server run a known, documented version. Ask the agent to say clearly whether it is working locally, in the repository, or directly on the hosting environment.

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