From prompt engineering to context engineering to harness engineering
A placeholder first essay for the blog: the shift from clever prompts to designed context and repeatable evaluation harnesses.
This is a placeholder draft for the first essay. Replace it with the real piece when ready.
The working thesis:
Prompt engineering is where many AI workflows start. Context engineering is where they become systems. Harness engineering is where they become dependable enough to improve.
Shape of the essay
- Why prompt craft alone is not enough.
- How context becomes an architectural concern.
- Why harnesses, tests, fixtures, and feedback loops matter.
- What this means for hands-on architects building real AI systems.
Notes
Keep this grounded in work you have actually done: RAG, agentic workflows, network automation, and the difference between a demo and a system that survives contact with reality.