Docs Resource Evaluations 2026 02 19 Allanhillgeek Decomposition Agentic Dev
Unlocking the True Potential of Agentic Development: Why Decomposition Matters More Than AI Sophistication
As a European SME, you’re likely no stranger to the promise of agentic development. The idea of harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline your software development process and boost productivity is tantalizing, isn’t it? But have you ever stopped to consider what truly holds back this revolutionary approach?
According to Allan Hill, a seasoned Fractional CTO, the bottleneck in agentic development lies not with AI itself, but with decomposition discipline. In his insightful LinkedIn Pulse article, “The Real Secret to Agentic Development is Small PRDs and Vertical Slices,” Hill makes a compelling case for why breaking work into manageable units – or vertical slices – is the key to unlocking true potential.
Decomposition: The Hard Part of Agentic Development
Hill’s core thesis is straightforward yet profound: “AI is the easy part. Decomposition is the hard part.” This may come as a surprise, given the hype surrounding AI-driven development tools and platforms. However, Hill argues that the real challenge lies in dividing complex work into bite-sized chunks that can be effectively processed by agents.
The Power of Vertical Slices
So, what exactly are these vertical slices? In essence, they represent thin, end-to-end features that span all layers of your tech stack for a single user behavior. For instance, “password reset via email” is an ideal candidate for a vertical slice. By focusing on clear boundaries and user-centric requirements, you create a reviewable unit of work that’s perfect for agents.
A 3-Phase Pipeline for Agentic Development
Hill outlines a three-phase pipeline that illustrates the power of decomposition in agentic development:
- Phase 0: PM Agents Produce Small PRDs with Quality Review
- Project managers work closely with agents to produce small, high-quality PRDs (Pull Requests) that meet specific quality criteria.
- Phase 1: Orchestrator Decomposes PRD into Independent Slices
- An orchestrator breaks down each PRD into ordered, independent vertical slices, ensuring clear boundaries and reviewable units of work.
- Phase 2: Per-Slice Development with Gherkin Scenarios, ATDD, and Implementation
- For each slice, developers create Gherkin scenarios, followed by automated tests (ATDD) and implementation.
Infrastructure for Agentic Development
To support this pipeline, Hill recommends a tailored infrastructure that includes:
- Multipass VMs (one per ticket)
- A Node.js dispatcher polling the GitHub API every 60 seconds
- Deterministic CI with tools like ESLint, Playwright, and SonarQube
- AI CI via GitHub Actions, leveraging multiple parallel review agents
Challenges Ahead
While Hill’s approach is innovative and insightful, it’s essential to acknowledge some open challenges that remain unresolved:
- Resume state fragility: the difficulty of maintaining agent context across sessions
- Boy Scout Rule vs PR scope balance: balancing the need for thorough reviews with the risk of over-engineering
- Review agent false positive tuning: calibrating agents to minimize unnecessary rework
Key Takeaways
As a European SME, what can you take away from Hill’s groundbreaking work? Here are some key insights:
- Decomposition discipline matters: breaking down complex work into manageable units is crucial for effective agentic development.
- Vertical slices are the key unit of work: focus on clear boundaries and user-centric requirements to create reviewable units of work.
- A tailored infrastructure is essential: invest in a customized setup that supports your pipeline, including deterministic CI and AI-driven review agents.
Unlock Your Potential with VORLUX AI
At VORLUX AI, we’re dedicated to empowering European SMEs like yours to unlock the true potential of agentic development. Our cutting-edge platform combines the power of decomposition discipline with the sophistication of AI-driven tools. By partnering with us, you’ll gain access to:
- Customized pipeline design: tailored to your unique needs and infrastructure
- AI-driven review agents: optimized for maximum efficiency and accuracy
- Continuous improvement: regular feedback loops to refine your agentic development process
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to revolutionize your software development workflow. Get in touch with us today to explore how VORLUX AI can help you achieve your goals!