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AI coding agent glossary
New to AI coding agents? This glossary explains the terms you'll run into — in plain English — so the rest of the docs and comparisons make sense.
Core terms
- Agent — software that plans and executes coding tasks, not just chats. See what is an AI coding agent.
- Plan mode — the agent proposes a plan you approve before any edit.
- Subagents — parallel agents working in isolated git worktrees.
- Vibe coding — describing outcomes and letting the agent build. See what is vibe coding.
Extending an agent
- Skills — reusable know-how in
SKILL.mdfiles the agent auto-loads. - Hooks / plugins — scripts that run on agent events (edits, tool calls).
- MCP — Model Context Protocol; connects the agent to external tools.
- AGENTS.md — a file of per-project rules the agent reads automatically.
Under the hood
- Worktree — an isolated git checkout so parallel edits don't collide.
- LSP — language server; gives the agent symbol-aware code intelligence.
- Headless / CI — running the agent in scripts and pipelines.
Get started free
You're one command away. On Windows, paste this into PowerShell:
irm https://freecoder.space/install.ps1 | iexThen run freecoder and open your project. Full steps in the getting-started guide.
Learn the vocabulary once and every agent tool gets easier to evaluate.
Related
What is an AI coding agent?
An AI coding agent plans, edits code across files, runs commands, and iterates toward a goal — unlike a chatbot that only suggests. Here's how they work.
LearnWhat is vibe coding?
Vibe coding means describing what you want in plain language and letting an AI agent build it, while you steer and review. Here's how it works and how to do it well.
LearnAI agent vs. chatbot
A coding chatbot suggests; a coding agent acts — editing files, running commands, and verifying. Here's the practical difference and when each helps.
irm https://freecoder.space/install.ps1 | iex — then follow the getting-started guide. Free, unlimited, no card.