Coding Agent Capabilities: MCP, Skills, Plugins, and Custom Agents
This is the 3rd workshop in our series to update the AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp content.
This workshop updates Module 3: Coding Agent Capabilities: MCP, Skills, Plugins, and Custom Agents.
In this hands-on session, Alexey Grigorev will show how modern coding agents are extended and customized.
You will see how agents use project instructions, MCP, reusable workflows, skills, commands, hooks, specialized subagents, plugins, extensions, and custom agent patterns.
What You'll Learn
How modern coding agents are extended and customized
How to think about Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Aider, and similar tools as part of the same broader agent workflow
How project instructions guide an agent inside a repository
How MCP connects assistants to tools, context, and actions
How reusable workflows, skills, and commands make common tasks repeatable
How specialized subagents can handle focused work
How hooks can add checks or automation around agent actions
How plugins and extensions package agent capabilities
How custom agents fit into the broader workflow
How to design an agent extension pack for your own app
How to think about permissions, local files, remote services, and security
How to review agent output with tests, diffs, and human judgment
By the end, you'll understand how to extend a coding agent around your app with project instructions, a reusable workflow, a specialized subagent, a hook, an MCP tool or server, and either a small plugin/extension package or a custom agent.
Like the other workshops, this will be a live demo with practical tips and time for Q&A.
All Events in This Series
AI-Native Developer Workflow: Using AI Tools Without Losing Control
Coding Agent Capabilities: MCP, Skills, Plugins, and Custom Agents
Thinking About Joining AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp?
This workshop covers the updated content for Module 3 of AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp, our free course on using AI tools in practical software development workflows.
The course covers AI-assisted planning, coding, review, testing, coding agent capabilities, MCP, skills, plugins, security, audit, DevOps, and a complete final project.
The new cohort of AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp starts on August 31, 2026. You can join it by registering here.
About the Speaker
Alexey Grigorev is the Founder of DataTalks.Club and creator of the Zoomcamp series.
Alexey is a software and ML engineer with over 10 years in engineering and 6+ years in machine learning. He has deployed large-scale ML systems at companies like OLX Group and Simplaex, authored several technical books, including Machine Learning Bookcamp, and is a Kaggle Master with a 1st place finish in the NIPS'17 Criteo Challenge.
DataTalks.Club is the place to talk about data. Join our Slack community!This is the 3rd workshop in our series to update the AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp content.
This workshop updates Module 3: Coding Agent Capabilities: MCP, Skills, Plugins, and Custom Agents.
In this hands-on session, Alexey Grigorev will show how modern coding agents are extended and customized.
You will see how agents use project instructions, MCP, reusable workflows, skills, commands, hooks, specialized subagents, plugins, extensions, and custom agent patterns.
What You'll Learn
How modern coding agents are extended and customized
How to think about Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Aider, and similar tools as part of the same broader agent workflow
How project instructions guide an agent inside a repository
How MCP connects assistants to tools, context, and actions
How reusable workflows, skills, and commands make common tasks repeatable
How specialized subagents can handle focused work
How hooks can add checks or automation around agent actions
How plugins and extensions package agent capabilities
How custom agents fit into the broader workflow
How to design an agent extension pack for your own app
How to think about permissions, local files, remote services, and security
How to review agent output with tests, diffs, and human judgment
By the end, you'll understand how to extend a coding agent around your app with project instructions, a reusable workflow, a specialized subagent, a hook, an MCP tool or server, and either a small plugin/extension package or a custom agent.
Like the other workshops, this will be a live demo with practical tips and time for Q&A.
All Events in This Series
AI-Native Developer Workflow: Using AI Tools Without Losing Control
Build and Ship an AI-Assisted Full-Stack App
Coding Agent Capabilities: MCP, Skills, Plugins, and Custom Agents
Open-Source AI Tools for Security, Audit, and DevOps
AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp 2026 Pre-Course Live Q&A
AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp 2026 Course Launch
Thinking About Joining AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp?
This workshop covers the updated content for Module 3 of AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp, our free course on using AI tools in practical software development workflows.
The course covers AI-assisted planning, coding, review, testing, coding agent capabilities, MCP, skills, plugins, security, audit, DevOps, and a complete final project.
The new cohort of AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp starts on August 31, 2026. You can join it by registering here.
About the Speaker
Alexey Grigorev is the Founder of DataTalks.Club and creator of the Zoomcamp series.
Alexey is a software and ML engineer with over 10 years in engineering and 6+ years in machine learning. He has deployed large-scale ML systems at companies like OLX Group and Simplaex, authored several technical books, including Machine Learning Bookcamp, and is a Kaggle Master with a 1st place finish in the NIPS'17 Criteo Challenge.
DataTalks.Club is the place to talk about data. Join our Slack community!