tech

April 2, 2026

Compound Engineering Camp: Every Step, From Scratch

Kieran Klaassen turned a prompt into a working app in an hour and shows you how

Compound Engineering Camp: Every Step, From Scratch

TL;DR

  • Compound engineering allows AI coding assistants to remember and apply past lessons, preferences, and bug fixes.
  • The process involves a four-step loop: Plan, Work, Review, and Compound.
  • The 'Plan' step generates a detailed implementation plan from a problem description.
  • The 'Work' step executes the plan, producing code, tests, and documentation.
  • The 'Review' step identifies issues and suggestions within the generated code.
  • The 'Compound' step stores learned information as artifacts for future sessions, making the system smarter over time.
  • An optional 'Brainstorm' step helps refine vague ideas into detailed requirements before planning.
  • Different AI models can be utilized for various stages of the compound engineering loop.
  • This approach mimics how successful founders build scalable systems by extracting and automating processes.