How to teach Claude to write better code (www.ponylang.io)

A developer recently embarked on a journey to train the AI model Claude to write better code in the Pony programming language. Initially, Claude struggled with generating correct Pony syntax; however, after mentoring it with tutorials and documentation, significant improvements were observed, including the ability to compile code. The goal was to streamline development processes and foster community engagement by reducing the barriers to contributing to Pony projects. This unique approach involved treating Claude as a junior developer, guiding it through engineering principles rather than merely instructing it on syntax. The innovative workflow emphasized collaboration, where Claude actively identified and recorded coding principles, resulting in a living document (CLAUDE.md) that evolved organically. A critical breakthrough occurred when the developer introduced a reviewer loop for Claude, allowing another instance of the AI to assess its work for adherence to established principles. This system enhanced the quality of the code produced and enabled Claude to operate independently, eventually producing results comparable to a skilled engineer. Through this experience, valuable insights were gained about the importance of patterns and a structured approach to managing context, enabling the AI to scale its knowledge effectively while maintaining coding quality.