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    AI Coding Agents

    Use this section to understand and configure an AI coding workflow without giving up control of your files, commands, data, or spending.

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    Use this section to understand and configure an AI coding workflow without giving up control of your files, commands, data, or spending.

    Choose A Route#

    Every code contributor completes the manual Git baseline first. An agent is a second workflow, not a substitute for understanding branches, diffs, tests, and pull requests.

    Route Cost and account Use it when
    Manual workflow No AI account or payment Always; this is the mandatory baseline and fallback
    VS Code + GitHub Copilot Student No-cost personal benefit for eligible, verified students Recommended student agent route
    Zed + personal OpenRouter Optional personal paid service You deliberately want to compare another editor/gateway and accept the costs

    IDEAL Lab does not require you to purchase AI credits for onboarding. Lab-funded access for eligible PhD students, postdocs, or staff is governed separately in the internal lab handbook; do not assume that a personal account will be reimbursed or converted later.

    Learning Order#

    1. Read Agents and interfaces.
    2. Complete the manual First safe pull request.
    3. Configure the recommended VS Code and Copilot Student route.
    4. Complete Manual versus agent.
    5. Read Cost, context, and failure modes.
    6. Optionally configure Zed and personal OpenRouter.

    Non-Negotiable Boundaries#

    • Never paste a password, token, private key, recovery code, or real .env content into an agent or chat.
    • Use only fictional training content until the information owner approves the exact service, account mode, and project data.
    • Review every command before allowing it and every diff before staging it.
    • Do not let an agent commit, push, open/merge a PR, install dependencies, or submit Euler work unless you explicitly request and review that action.
    • A spending limit controls money, not data disclosure or technical safety.
    • A sandbox reduces impact; it does not prove that instructions are correct.

    Sources And Freshness#

    Vendor interfaces, entitlements, models, and prices change. The operational pages record verification dates and link to current vendor documentation. If the interface differs, stop and report the mismatch rather than improvising with credentials or payment.