Getting Started with AI Coding Agents: A Beginner's Guide

AI coding assistants are everywhere. GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude... but there's a new level of AI-powered development: AI Agents.

Let's break down what they are and how to start using them today.

What are AI Coding Agents?

An AI coding agent is an assistant with specific instructions, context, and capabilities tailored for a particular task.

Think of it like this:

Basic AI: "Write me a React component"
AI Agent: "Write me a React component following our team's style guide, using TypeScript strict mode, Tailwind CSS, and our custom hooks pattern"

Why Use Agents Instead of Raw AI?

Consistency

Agents ensure every piece of code follows the same patterns.

Speed

You don't need to explain your preferences every time.

Quality

Agents encode best practices so you don't ship bugs.

Context

They understand your stack, your patterns, your rules.

Popular AI Coding Tools

1. Cursor

The most popular AI-native code editor. Uses "rules" (agents) stored in .cursorrules files.

Best for: Developers who want a VS Code-like experience with powerful AI.

2. Windsurf

The new challenger with "Flow" mode - AI that can take multi-step actions across your codebase.

Best for: Developers who want AI to handle complex refactors autonomously.

3. Claude Code

Anthropic's official CLI that brings Claude directly to your terminal.

Best for: Developers who prefer terminal-based workflows and MCP servers.

4. Replit

Browser-based IDE with AI built in. Great for learning and prototyping.

Best for: Beginners, educators, and rapid prototyping.

How to Install Your First Agent

Step 1: Choose Your Tool

Pick one of the tools above. We recommend Cursor for beginners.

Step 2: Find an Agent

Go to AgentDepot and browse agents for your tool.

Step 3: Install It

For Cursor:

Copy the rule from AgentDepot
Create .cursorrules in your project root
Paste the rule
Start coding!

For Claude Code:

Find an MCP server or agent
Run npx @anthropic-ai/mcp install [server-name]
Configure in settings
Start using it!

Your First Project with Agents

Let's build a simple to-do app using AI agents.

Step 1: Install a React Agent

Search "React" on AgentDepot and install a React best practices agent.

Step 2: Start Building

Open your AI assistant (Cmd+K in Cursor) and say:

"Create a to-do app with add, delete, and mark complete functionality"

Step 3: Watch the Magic

The agent will generate code following the rules you installed.

Step 4: Iterate

Make changes by describing what you want. The agent maintains consistency.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Installing Too Many Agents at Once

Start with 1-2 agents. Add more as you get comfortable.

2. Not Reading What the Agent Does

Skim the agent description so you know what to expect.

3. Trusting AI Blindly

Always review generated code. AI is a tool, not a replacement for thinking.

4. Ignoring Agent Conflicts

Some agents contradict each other. If you see weird behavior, try removing agents one by one.

Advanced: Creating Your Own Agents

Once you're comfortable, you can write custom agents for your team's patterns.

Example custom agent:

You are an expert in our company's Next.js codebase.
We use:
- Next.js 15 App Router
- TypeScript strict mode
- Tailwind CSS with our custom design tokens
- tRPC for API calls
- Prisma for database access

When generating code:
1. Follow our file structure: features/[feature-name]/
2. Use our custom hooks from @/hooks
3. Implement error boundaries
4. Add loading states
5. Write tests alongside code

Save this as .cursorrules and now your AI knows your entire stack!

Next Steps

Install your first agent from AgentDepot
Build something small to get comfortable
Join communities (Discord, Reddit) to learn from others
Experiment with different agents and tools

Conclusion

AI coding agents are the future of software development. They don't replace developers - they make us 10x faster at the boring parts so we can focus on the creative parts.

Start with one agent today. Your future self will thank you.

Explore agents on AgentDepot →