Getting Started with AI Development Patterns
A structured learning path for developers new to AI-assisted development.
Prerequisites
- Basic programming knowledge
- Familiarity with version control (Git)
- Access to an AI coding assistant (Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, etc.)
Learning Path Overview
graph LR
A[Foundations] --> B[First Patterns]
B --> C[Tool Integration]
C --> D[Team Adoption]
D --> E[Advanced Patterns]
Week 1: Foundations
Day 1-2: Philosophy and Mindset
📖 Read: Philosophy and Mindset
- Understand AI as a collaborator, not replacement
- Learn about context management
- Grasp the importance of clear communication
Exercise: Write 5 different prompts for the same task, observe differences
Day 3-4: Core Concepts
📖 Read: Introduction
- Understand the three-tier knowledge system
- Learn risk profiles (Green/Yellow/Red)
- Review the taxonomy structure
Exercise: Categorize 3 recent coding tasks by risk level
Day 5: First Implementation
📖 Read: System Prompts and Model Settings
- Configure your first system prompt
- Understand model parameters
- Set up development environment
Exercise: Create a custom prompt for your specific domain
Week 2: First Patterns
Day 1-2: Basic Execution Flow
📖 Read: Execution Flow in Detail
- Understand request-response cycles
- Learn about streaming responses
- Handle errors gracefully
Exercise: Implement a simple tool that uses AI for code review
Day 3-4: Framework Selection
📖 Read: Framework Selection Guide
- Evaluate different AI frameworks
- Understand trade-offs
- Make informed choices
Exercise: Compare 2 frameworks for your use case
Day 5: Practical Examples
📖 Read: Real World Examples
- Study successful implementations
- Learn from common mistakes
- Identify patterns relevant to your work
Exercise: Adapt one example to your project
Week 3: Tool Integration
Day 1-2: Architecture Basics
📖 Read: Core Architecture
- Understand the three-layer architecture
- Learn about plugin systems
- Grasp reactive patterns
Exercise: Diagram your current architecture and identify AI integration points
Day 3-4: Tool Systems
- Learn tool interface patterns
- Understand permission models
- Implement custom tools
Exercise: Create a custom tool for your workflow
Day 5: Parallel Execution
📖 Read: Parallel Tool Execution
- Optimize for performance
- Handle concurrent operations
- Manage resource usage
Exercise: Convert sequential operations to parallel
Week 4: Team Adoption
Day 1-2: Collaboration Patterns
- Set up team workflows
- Establish conventions
- Share knowledge effectively
Exercise: Document and share one successful pattern with your team
Day 3-4: Security Considerations
📖 Read: The Permission System
- Implement access controls
- Understand security risks
- Set up audit logging
Exercise: Add permission checks to your tools
Day 5: Lessons Learned
📖 Read: Lessons Learned
- Learn from others' experiences
- Avoid common pitfalls
- Plan for challenges
Exercise: Create a risk mitigation plan
Milestone Checklist
Foundation Complete ✅
- Configured AI assistant with custom prompts
- Implemented at least one pattern successfully
- Measured productivity improvement
- Documented learnings
Integration Complete ✅
- Integrated AI into existing workflow
- Created custom tools
- Optimized for performance
- Established security measures
Team Ready ✅
- Shared patterns with team
- Established team conventions
- Set up collaborative workflows
- Created documentation
Next Steps
For Individuals
→ Explore Advanced Patterns → Experiment with High-Risk Patterns in safe environments
For Teams
→ Follow Enterprise Adoption Journey → Implement Team Workflows
For Agencies
→ Study Agency Playbook → Focus on Client Communication
Quick Reference Card
Daily Practices
- Start with low-risk patterns (Green)
- Document what works and what doesn't
- Measure impact with simple metrics
- Share learnings with peers
- Iterate quickly based on feedback
Warning Signs
- 🚫 Implementing high-risk patterns without experience
- 🚫 Skipping security considerations
- 🚫 Not measuring impact
- 🚫 Working in isolation
- 🚫 Ignoring failure modes
Success Indicators
- ✅ Consistent productivity gains
- ✅ Reduced bug rates
- ✅ Team adoption growing
- ✅ Clear documentation
- ✅ Positive feedback loops
Resources
Essential Tools
- Pattern Template - For documenting your patterns
- Risk Assessment - For evaluating new patterns
- Taxonomy Guide - For categorizing patterns
Community
- Share your patterns with the QED community
- Learn from others' implementations
- Contribute improvements back
Remember: Start small, prove value, scale gradually