New to AI agents and Claude Code? This hub gives you a recommended reading order across five entries β from conceptual orientation to hands-on use to a full learning roadmap.
Recommended Reading Order
Step 1 β Understand what this is (15 min)
β What is Agentic Engineering?
Defines the field: what makes a system βagentic,β how LLM-mediated software differs from traditional software, and why new engineering skills are needed. Start here if youβre coming from a software background or need to explain this to others. Covers the distinction between prompting, tool use, and full agentic orchestration.
Step 2 β See it through a non-technical lens (10 min)
If you or your students have no coding background, this primer explains vibe coding β AI-assisted development where you describe intent in natural language β without assuming programming knowledge. Good for understanding the user side of what Claude Code enables, and for onboarding non-CS students or colleagues.
(Skip if youβre a developer β go straight to Step 3.)
Step 3 β Get hands-on with Claude Code (30 min)
β Claude Code 101
Anthropicβs official free course. Covers installation, first session, how to think about context, and the core mental model. The right starting point if you want to actually use Claude Code, not just understand what it is. Includes interactive exercises.
Step 4 β Build the vocabulary and workflow model (20 min)
β AI Agent Primer β The Vocabulary Ladder and 18-Step Workflow
Gives you the vocabulary to discuss agents precisely: the difference between an LLM call, a tool, an agent, and an orchestrator. Includes an 18-step ladder from simple prompting to multi-agent systems. Use this as a reference after youβve done Step 3 β it will help you understand what youβre building toward.
Step 5 β Map the full learning journey (30 min)
β Agentic AI Engineer Roadmap 2026
Eight pillars from prompt engineering to production deployment. The most comprehensive orientation to where this field is going and what skills matter. Read this last so you can place what youβve learned in a larger structure.
At a Glance
| Step | Entry | Reader | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is Agentic Engineering? | Everyone | 15 min |
| 2 | Vibe Coding ζ°ζζε | Non-technical readers | 10 min |
| 3 | Claude Code 101 | Hands-on learners | 30 min |
| 4 | AI Agent Primer | Vocabulary builders | 20 min |
| 5 | Agentic AI Engineer Roadmap | Goal-setters | 30 min |
After This Path
Once youβve completed these five entries, next steps depend on your goal:
Teaching AI to students β Claude Code for Non-Programmers, Make Slides
Building your own agents β Harness Engineering, 12-Factor Agents, Agents Need Control Flow
Power user Claude Code β Claude Code Top 20 Skills, Claude Code Power Tips, Non-Coding Skills in Claude Code
Academic research with agents β See the Academic Writing Hub entries
How LearnAI Team Could Use This Hub
- First-day reading for new students β Share this page as the entry point for any course or workshop that involves AI agent tools. It sequences the learning; students donβt need to figure out where to start.
- CS-310 onboarding β Students arriving in Advanced OO Design with no AI agent experience can use Steps 1 and 3 as pre-class reading before the first agentic engineering discussion.
- Non-CS faculty colleagues β Share Steps 1 and 2 with colleagues in Education, Business, or other departments who want to understand what students are building with AI tools.
- Public AI literacy β Step 2 (Vibe Coding primer) is safe to share with any audience; Steps 1 and 3-5 work for anyone who wants to go deeper.