Should I ask an AI coder for one big feature at once or break it into small steps?

Breaking it into small steps is much better.

When you ask for a large feature all at once, the AI is more likely to lose track of details, make assumptions that don't match your vision, or encounter "context drift" where it forgets earlier parts of the prompt.

Here is why smaller steps work better:

• Better Accuracy: It is easier for the AI to get a specific, contained task right than a broad, complex one.
• Easier Debugging: If something breaks, you know exactly which change caused the issue.
• Better Feedback Loops: You can verify each part works as expected before adding more complexity on top of it.
• Context Management: Smaller prompts stay within the AI's "sweet spot" for reasoning and code generation quality.

A good approach:

1. Define the Goal: Briefly tell the AI what the final feature is so it understands the "big picture."
2. Break it Down: Ask it to create a plan with specific steps.
3. Execute Step-by-Step: Ask it to implement only one step at a time, testing as you go.

If you hit a roadblock, the small-step approach makes it much easier to backtrack or pivot without having to scrap a huge block of code.