---
id: "action-optimize-harness"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["00:00:00", "00:27:45"]
tags: ["optimization", "tooling"]
related: ["concept-ai-harness", "claim-harness-over-model", "quote-f1-harness-analogy"]
outcome: "Higher quality, more deterministic output from existing AI models with lower token spend."
speakers: ["Matt Pocock"]
---
# Optimize the AI Harness

## Action

Focus engineering effort on improving the codebase architecture, prompts, and agent tools rather than just switching models.

See [[concept-ai-harness]] for the underlying concept, [[claim-harness-over-model]] for the supporting claim, and [[quote-f1-harness-analogy]] for the canonical metaphor.

## Expected outcome

Higher quality, more deterministic output from existing AI models with lower token spend.

## Concrete moves

- Make your codebase agent-navigable (clear module boundaries, dependency graphs, READMEs that orient agents).
- Adopt a procedural skill library — see [[entity-matt-pocock-skills]] and [[concept-procedural-vs-ability-skills]].
- Stand up isolated sandboxes — see [[entity-sandcastle]] and [[action-use-sandcastle]].
- Build comprehensive test seams that double as agent quality gates.
- Move to queue-based orchestration — see [[action-implement-agent-queues]].