# Ground a coding agent in service manuals before it builds a mechanical recreation

PaperChase agent use case (free feed entry), version 1.0. Source: [u/SelectionNo3613](https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1xi3s3l/i_used_claude_code_to_reverse_engineer_the_old/), 2026-10-28.

## What they did

The research step gave the agent real mechanical measurements instead of guesses. From there the loop was research, build, review in the browser, give specific feedback, test and repeat. Claude wrote browser tests that click through the interface, which caught problems that were not visible in the code, and project decisions were written down so work carried across context resets.

## Worth knowing

The point is that results came from grounding and small pieces, not one perfect prompt. Writing decisions to a file is what let the work continue across context resets. The builder works at a robotics company and used its in-house research skills, so the exact tools are not all public.

## Workflow template

```text
Apply this workflow to [your project]:
1. Collect primary sources first: manuals, patents, teardowns.
2. Have the agent turn them into a short spec with measurements and cite where each came from.
3. Build one module, review it in the browser and give specific feedback.
4. Have the agent write browser tests that click through each part.
5. Keep a decisions file so a fresh session can pick up the work.
Stop and ask me before anything irreversible: deploys, payments, sends or deletes.
```

## Steps

1. **Collect primary sources first: manuals, patents, teardowns.** Collect primary sources first: manuals, patents, teardowns.
2. **Have the agent turn them into a short spec with measurements and cite .** Have the agent turn them into a short spec with measurements and cite where each came from.
3. **Build one module, review it in the browser and give specific feedback.** Build one module, review it in the browser and give specific feedback.
4. **Have the agent write browser tests that click through each part.** Have the agent write browser tests that click through each part.
5. **Keep a decisions file so a fresh session can pick up the work.** Keep a decisions file so a fresh session can pick up the work.

## Credit

Workflow reported by u/SelectionNo3613: https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1xi3s3l/i_used_claude_code_to_reverse_engineer_the_old/

Summary and template written by PaperChaseWebb in our own words. Questions: mgmt@paperchasewebb.com