06 / Memory & Steering
Progressive disclosure
Load only what is needed now, and leave signposts to the rest. The same principle that stops a good interface from showing you everything at once, applied to what an agent reads.
How you’ll hear it
“Should we load the whole handbook?”
“No. Give it the index and let it open the chapter it needs.”
Avoid
Front-loading every document just in case.
The longer version
Progressive disclosure means giving the agent only what it needs now, with clear pointers to the rest. Focused context improves quality and lowers cost. It is the same principle good interfaces use.