Surface Explore Record - Episode 11: Build Part 4

Surface, Explore, Record: Episode 11 | Building TaskFlow Part 4

Welcome back to Surface, Explore, Record! In this episode, we continue building TaskFlow and I show you how I work specifically with Claude Code, including how I structure my Claude.md file, how I use Claude commands, and how to use the new agent view to run multiple sessions in parallel.

Most of what I show in this episode will translate to other AI coding assistants like Antigravity or Codex, but the techniques themselves come from 40 years of software engineering experience applied to working with AI.

In This Episode:
- Continuing the build phase, I demonstrate Claude-specific techniques that complement the Surface, Explore, Record methodology:
- Keep your Claude.md sparse: Instead of stuffing everything into Claude.md, just point Claude to where your specifications live. Claude reads the file every time, so less is more.
- Use Claude commands for repeatable workflows: I show my pickup command that reviews the implementation plan and status to tell me what is done and what is next. Remember to update these commands as you move through the SDLC phases.
- Ask for parallel options: Before running phases in parallel, ask Claude whether parts of your plan can actually run in parallel and where the touch points are.
- Use worktrees for parallel sessions: Running phase D1 and phase E1 in separate work trees keeps code changes isolated so sessions do not write over each other.
- Use the agent view to track sessions: The new agent view in Claude Code shows you which sessions are running, which need input, and which are complete, all in one place.
- Merge one phase at a time: When a non-parallel plan is run in parallel, merge the first phase to main, then rebase the second phase before merging it in.

I also show how to use a third Claude session in the background to think through the merge strategy while the other two sessions are still working.

Key Insights:
- Less in your Claude.md means faster, cheaper, and more focused responses
- Worktrees keep parallel sessions from corrupting each other
- Implementation plans built for parallel work from the start are smoother than retrofitting parallelism onto a sequential plan
- The agent view is what makes managing multiple Claude sessions practical

What You'll Learn:
- How to structure a Claude.md that points to specifications instead of containing them
- How to build Claude commands like pickup that you reuse across phases
- How to ask Claude for options on running phases in parallel
- How to use work trees to keep parallel sessions isolated
- How to use Claude Code's agent view to track multiple sessions at once
- How to merge parallel work into main safely, including rebasing the second branch

Resources:
Read the full methodology article: https://alanknox.com/surface-explore-...
GitHub repo with prompts and decision records: https://github.com/PlanningRoom/TaskFlow

Previous Episodes:
Episode 1 - Business Decision Records: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldgh_npOWvA
Episode 2 - Creating Your BRD: https://youtu.be/LWgH7NU9UbY
Episode 3 - Product Decisions for Your PRD: https://youtu.be/KLDQ7fXXfXg
Episode 4 - Creating Your PRD: https://youtu.be/mlgKZJMaax0
Episode 5 - Design Decisions and Visual Mockups: https://youtu.be/ZR8xqsjmofY
Episode 6 - Architecture Decisions and Technical Design: https://youtu.be/kHDyfIAcyy4
Episode 7 - Building Your Implementation Plan: https://youtu.be/XYrN46X-uz8
Episode 8 - Building TaskFlow Part 1: https://youtu.be/HLzz5d-GK2w
Episode 9 - Building TaskFlow Part 2: https://youtu.be/5yICMBDmAh4
Episode 10 - Building TaskFlow Part 3: https://youtu.be/C-JIIHVX8jA

Remember: Keep your specifications outside your Claude.md, plan for parallel work when you can, and let the agent view do the tracking for you.

Questions or suggestions? Drop them in the comments!

#ai #ArtificialIntelligence #AIcoding #ClaudeCode #SurfaceExploreRecord #AIassistedDevelopment #VibeCoding #SoftwareDevelopment #AIprogramming #CodingWithAI #TaskManagementApp #ClaudeMD #ClaudeCommands #AgentView #WorkTrees #ParallelDevelopment #AIworkflow #DeveloperTools #BuildWithAI #AIbestpractices #CodingMethodology #SlowDownToSpeedUp

Видео Surface Explore Record - Episode 11: Build Part 4 канала Alan Knox (Alan on AI)