Factory's new Droid update puts the whole job in focus

The tools around AI matter too

When you ask AI to improve an app, the answer is only part of the work. The tool also needs to find the right files, make changes, run checks, and explain the result.

On October 29, Factory introduced Droid 1.0, an update to its AI development tool. Its main change lets the AI write a small program that carries out a sequence of tool actions, instead of asking the AI again between each small step.

Factory says this can reduce repeated requests and keep large working results out of the conversation until they are needed. The update works with supported AI models from different providers and is available through its Mac and Windows app, as well as its developer tools.

Read the announcement: Factory: Droid 1.0, Building a Frontier Harness.

Follow a complete piece of work

This gives you a useful way to compare building tools. Ask to see a whole change from start to finish, including the checks and the handover.

For example, a builder might need to find every place your app shows an old service name, update those places, and check the changed screens. A useful demonstration would show what was found, what changed, and which results still need your review.

The example is a task you could use in a comparison, rather than a claim that we have tested Droid on it. Factory's published performance comparisons come from its own tests. A tool may behave differently on your project, so use the news as a reason to investigate a fit.

Agree what a finished result includes

If you are learning to build, pick a change with a clear beginning and end. Ask the tool to explain how it will know that the job is complete.

1. Name the places the change should reach.
2. Ask how it will find any places that were missed.
3. Keep a record of changes so you can review or undo them.
4. Decide which actions need a person's approval before they happen.

Choose an experience you can follow

You do not have to try every new building tool. A clear view of the complete job can help you make better use of the one you already have.

If you want help learning, ask for a session built around a real change you can understand and review. If you are hiring a builder, ask for that same clear handover. The useful outcome is work you can assess, with enough explanation to decide what should happen next.