{"slug": "mechanical-coding-how-to-use-chatgpt-as-a-bounded-coding-worker-instead-of-a", "title": "Mechanical Coding: How to use ChatGPT as a bounded coding worker instead of a guessing machine", "summary": "A developer introduces 'mechanical coding,' a workflow where ChatGPT proposes small, bounded steps and the human verifies each step via terminal output, preventing the model from inventing project state. The method treats terminal output as the sole source of truth, reducing errors from AI hallucinations in software projects.", "body_md": "A lot of people use AI coding tools by asking broad questions, copying code, and hoping it works.\n\nThat is the wrong control pattern.\n\nThe model should not be treated as the source of truth. The terminal should be the source of truth.\n\nI call this mechanical coding.\n\nThe basic idea is simple:\n\nThe model proposes one small bounded step.\n\nThe human runs the packet in the terminal.\n\nThe terminal output proves whether it passed or failed.\n\nThe model only continues from the evidence.\n\nThis prevents the common failure mode where the model invents project state, edits the wrong file, claims success, and then builds the next step on top of a false assumption.\n\nHere is a beginner template.\n\n```\nSTART TEMPLATE\n\nI want to work on a software project using a mechanical coding workflow.\n\nYour role:\nYou are my coding coordinator. Guide the work one small step at a time. Do not assume project state. Do not claim success unless terminal output proves it.\n\nProject details:\nProject name:\nProject goal:\nRepo path:\nOperating system:\nTech stack, if known:\nWhat already works:\nWhat is broken or missing:\nWhat I want to build next:\n\nRules:\n\nStart with a read only audit. Do not write code yet.\n\nWork one small packet at a time.\n\nFor each packet, tell me the purpose, allowed files, forbidden changes, commands to run, and expected result.\n\nI will paste your packet into my terminal.\n\nI will paste the complete terminal output back to you.\n\nTreat terminal output as the only source of truth.\n\nIf output is incomplete, say it is incomplete.\n\nIf a command fails, diagnose only from the terminal output.\n\nDo not skip ahead.\n\nDo not make broad rewrites unless a read only audit proves they are needed.\n\nDo not use Git unless I explicitly ask.\n\nDo not call external services, deploy, publish, or run destructive commands unless I explicitly approve it.\n\nFirst task:\nGive me a read only audit packet.\n\nThe packet should:\n\ncd into the repo path.\n\nCreate basic state folders if needed.\n\nList top level files and folders.\n\nDetect the language and framework.\n\nDetect package files.\n\nDetect test commands.\n\nDetect existing docs.\n\nDetect likely entry points.\n\nDetect obvious risks.\n\nPrint a clear summary.\n\nRecommend the next smallest safe step.\n\nDo not write source code yet.\n\nEND TEMPLATE\n```\n\nThe core rule is:\n\nChatGPT suggests. The terminal proves.\n\nThis is slower for the first few steps, but it saves time later because the project does not drift into invented state.\n\nOnce the first audit is complete, paste the terminal output back into the same chat and tell the model:\n\nValidate this output. Do not continue unless the evidence proves the audit passed. If it passed, propose the next smallest safe packet.\n\nThat is the mechanical loop.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/mechanical-coding-how-to-use-chatgpt-as-a-bounded-coding-worker-instead-of-a", "canonical_source": "https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/mechanical-coding-how-to-use-chatgpt-as-a-bounded-coding-worker-instead-of-a-guessing-machine/177795#post_1", "published_at": "2026-07-14 05:32:49+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-14 08:31:09.571531+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "large-language-models", "developer-tools", "ai-tools"], "entities": ["ChatGPT", "OpenAI"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/mechanical-coding-how-to-use-chatgpt-as-a-bounded-coding-worker-instead-of-a", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/mechanical-coding-how-to-use-chatgpt-as-a-bounded-coding-worker-instead-of-a.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/mechanical-coding-how-to-use-chatgpt-as-a-bounded-coding-worker-instead-of-a.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/mechanical-coding-how-to-use-chatgpt-as-a-bounded-coding-worker-instead-of-a.jsonld"}}