Harness Engineering: The Missing Layer in Specs-Driven AI Development

This article discusses the limitations of treating AI like an intern in software delivery and proposes harness engineering as a systematic control layer for AI-assisted development. It contrasts 'in-the-loop' (manual validation) with 'on-the-loop' (automated feedback) models, emphasizing feedforward guides and feedback sensors to enforce specs. The piece builds on prior work about specs-driven development, arguing that AI should be treated as a reliable component with defined outputs, constraints, and acceptance criteria. It targets developers and tech leads seeking scalable, standardized AI integration in production systems.