The key ability is acting and then checking. Instead of guessing at code and handing it over, the agent runs it, sees the error, and corrects itself, much like a developer would. That feedback loop is what lets it handle multi-step work rather than one-shot suggestions.
It still works within limits you set: which files it can touch, which commands it can run, and when it needs your approval. Good setups keep the agent on a leash for anything risky, like deleting files or deploying.
Updated July 2026