What it does
This is an "awesome list", a hand-picked collection of links. It focuses on "harness engineering": designing everything that surrounds an AI agent so it does real tasks well. An AI agent is a program that uses an AI model to take steps on its own.
The harness includes how the agent gets information, the tools it can use, its plans, its memory, safety limits and the checks on its work. The list says it focuses on these parts, not on the AI model itself.
Links are grouped into topics such as agent loops, planning, tool design, permissions, memory, testing, tracing, security and templates. It includes essays from AI companies, research papers and example projects, each with a short description.
Who it's for
Software developers and technical teams who build or study AI agents and want background reading and examples in one place.
Can I use it without coding?
Yes. It is a list of links you read on its page, with nothing to install, though most of the material is technical. New to this? Start here.
Can I run it?
- Cost
- FreeNothing to pay or sign up for.
- Runs on
- Web browser
- Computer
- An ordinary computer is fine
- API key
- Not needed
Try it
- Open the project's page on GitHub.
- Use the Contents section to jump to a topic that interests you.
- Start with the Foundations section for introductory essays.
Using Claude Code, Cursor or another AI coding assistant? Paste the prompt and it will walk you through the setup.New to this?
Before you install
- Only download from the official GitHub page. Copies with similar names exist for many popular projects.
- Plain-AyI is an independent guide and doesn't host or review the software it lists. Please check each project's official page before installing.
- No standard license listed. Check the GitHub page before using it for business.
- More on staying safe
Where people are talking about it
- Building AI Coding Agents for the Terminal: Scaffolding, Harness, Context Engineering, and Lessons LearnedResearch paper · Invalid Date
- Natural-Language Agent HarnessesResearch paper · Invalid Date