Build your own coding agent from scratch.
Works with Kode CLI, Claude Code, Cursor, and any agent supporting the Agent Skills Spec.
A progressive tutorial that demystifies AI coding agents like Kode, Claude Code, and Cursor Agent.
5 versions, ~1100 lines total, each adding one concept:
| Version | Lines | What it adds | Core insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| v0 | ~50 | 1 bash tool | Bash is all you need |
| v1 | ~200 | 4 core tools | Model as Agent |
| v2 | ~300 | Todo tracking | Explicit planning |
| v3 | ~450 | Subagents | Divide and conquer |
| v4 | ~550 | Skills | Domain expertise on-demand |
pip install anthropic python-dotenv
# Configure your API
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your API key
# Run any version
python v0_bash_agent.py # Minimal
python v1_basic_agent.py # Core agent loop
python v2_todo_agent.py # + Todo planning
python v3_subagent.py # + Subagents
python v4_skills_agent.py # + SkillsEvery coding agent is just this loop:
while True:
response = model(messages, tools)
if response.stop_reason != "tool_use":
return response.text
results = execute(response.tool_calls)
messages.append(results)That's it. The model calls tools until done. Everything else is refinement.
mini-claude-code/
├── v0_bash_agent.py # ~50 lines: 1 tool, recursive subagents
├── v0_bash_agent_mini.py # ~16 lines: extreme compression
├── v1_basic_agent.py # ~200 lines: 4 tools, core loop
├── v2_todo_agent.py # ~300 lines: + TodoManager
├── v3_subagent.py # ~450 lines: + Task tool, agent registry
├── v4_skills_agent.py # ~550 lines: + Skill tool, SkillLoader
├── skills/ # Example skills (for learning)
└── docs/ # Detailed explanations (EN + ZH)
This repository includes a meta-skill that teaches agents how to build agents:
# Scaffold a new agent project
python skills/agent-builder/scripts/init_agent.py my-agent
# Or with specific complexity level
python skills/agent-builder/scripts/init_agent.py my-agent --level 0 # Minimal
python skills/agent-builder/scripts/init_agent.py my-agent --level 1 # 4 tools (default)# Kode CLI (recommended)
kode plugins install https://github.com/shareAI-lab/shareAI-skills
# Claude Code
claude plugins install https://github.com/shareAI-lab/shareAI-skillsSee shareAI-skills for the full collection of production-ready skills.
One tool. Recursive self-calls for subagents. Proves the core is tiny.
4 tools (bash, read, write, edit). The complete agent in one function.
Todo tool makes plans explicit. Constraints enable complex tasks.
Task tool spawns isolated child agents. Context stays clean.
SKILL.md files provide domain expertise on-demand. Knowledge as a first-class citizen.
Technical tutorials (docs/):
| English | 中文 |
|---|---|
| v0: Bash is All You Need | v0: Bash 就是一切 |
| v1: Model as Agent | v1: 模型即代理 |
| v2: Structured Planning | v2: 结构化规划 |
| v3: Subagent Mechanism | v3: 子代理机制 |
| v4: Skills Mechanism | v4: Skills 机制 |
Original articles (articles/) - Chinese only, social media style:
| Repository | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Kode | Full-featured open source agent CLI (production) |
| shareAI-skills | Production-ready skills for AI agents |
| Agent Skills Spec | Official specification |
Fork and customize for your own agent projects:
git clone https://github.com/shareAI-lab/mini-claude-code
cd mini-claude-code
# Start from any version level
cp v1_basic_agent.py my_agent.pyThe model is 80%. Code is 20%.
Kode and Claude Code work not because of clever engineering, but because the model is trained to be an agent. Our job is to give it tools and stay out of the way.
MIT
Model as Agent. That's the whole secret.