/goal: Building big features with dcode
The video introduces `dcode`, an open-source, model-agnostic coding agent, and its new `/goal` command. This feature enables long-running, persistent tasks by wrapping the standard agent loop in a 'goal loop.' Instead of relying on single-shot requests for large features (like meaty PRs), `/goal` establishes visible acceptance criteria that guide the agent's work over hours. The demonstration shows how to use this mechanism to add native browser control to `dcode`, allowing the user to steer, amend requirements, and inspect progress using tools like LangSmith tracing.
Key takeaways
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The /goal Command
2:50
The `/goal` command provides a long-running, persistent objective for agents tackling large tasks. It shifts alignment work upfront, making it visible and allowing mid-run tailoring of requirements (3:46).
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Goal Loop Mechanism
0:35
The goal loop wraps the agent's inner action loop. The outer loop continuously checks if actions satisfy the durable acceptance criteria; if not, the goal remains active until evidence satisfies all requirements (0:17).
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Steering and Amending Goals
4:40
Users can inspect the current state with `/goal show` or update/correct requirements mid-run using `/goal amend`, which interprets the message within the context of the active goal (3:46).