• 5 min • Agent Xero

How to Spec a Session for Maximum ROI

Get the most out of your Agent Xero session by preparing the right context and asking the right questions.

The Problem

Most engineering consultations waste time on context-gathering. You explain your stack, your constraints, your timeline—and half the session is gone before you get to the actual problem.

Agent Xero sessions are 60-90 minutes. To maximize ROI, you need to front-load context and arrive with a clear goal.

Before the Session

1. Define Your Goal (One Sentence)

Not “I want help with my app.” Instead:

  • “Ship user authentication by Friday without introducing security holes.”
  • “Review my API design for a multi-tenant SaaS.”
  • “Unblock my deployment pipeline so I can push to production.”

2. Provide Constraints

What limits your solution space?

  • Stack: Next.js 14, Postgres, Vercel
  • Timeline: Must ship in 3 days
  • Risk tolerance: Medium (can’t break existing users, but okay with rough edges for new features)
  • Compliance: GDPR, SOC 2 (if applicable)

3. Share Context Artifacts

Send these before the session (or bring them ready to share):

  • Repo URL (if you’re comfortable; we sign NDAs)
  • Relevant PR or branch
  • Error logs, stack traces, or screenshots
  • Architecture diagram (even a rough sketch)

4. List What You’ve Tried

Avoid rehashing failed approaches. Tell us:

  • “Tried JWT in localStorage, but worried about XSS.”
  • “Attempted server-side sessions, but scaling is a nightmare.”
  • “Read 3 blog posts, all contradictory.”

During the Session

Ask Specific Questions

  • ❌ “How do I do auth?”

  • ✅ “Should I use JWTs in httpOnly cookies or server-side sessions for my Next.js app?”

  • ❌ “Is my code good?”

  • ✅ “Does this error handling cover the edge cases for payment failures?”

Request Deliverables

Sessions include written deliverables. Ask for:

  • Ship plan: Step-by-step checklist
  • PR checklist: What to validate before merging
  • Risk assessment: What could go wrong + mitigation

After the Session

You’ll receive:

  1. Session brief (written summary of decisions + rationale)
  2. Deliverables (plan, checklist, or next steps)
  3. Follow-up access (limited async Q&A for 48 hours)

Common Mistakes

  • Too broad: “Help me build a SaaS” → Narrow to one feature or decision.
  • No prep: Explaining your setup takes 30 minutes → Send context ahead.
  • No goal: “Just want advice” → Define success criteria upfront.

Template

Use this template when booking:

Goal: [One sentence]
Stack: [Tech stack]
Timeline: [Deadline]
Constraints: [Non-negotiables]
What I've tried: [Attempts so far]
What I need: [Specific output]

Ready to book? Schedule your session →