# Dex Horthy argues agents should read source code over docs and summaries

> Original title: I cannot cosign the $32m paper but yes I am nodding along to this one pretty hard

- Source: Dex Horthy
- Published: 2026-10-30T03:05:31.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/zrw6fljrugsgoyvcr3keay2ip
- Original: https://x.com/dexhorthy/status/2116003536098263419

## Summary

Dex Horthy says he cannot back a $32M paper but agrees that summaries of codebase directories only help if they speed up work without lowering quality. He argues that unless a team builds evals for its own codebase, it should accept a small speed cost and read from source each time. He also says Mintlify docs can serve as primary sources for users' agents when a codebase is closed.

## Post

I cannot cosign the $32m paper but yes I am nodding along to this one pretty hard

Only reason for any kind of doc/summary (eg compacted summary per dir down the hierarchy) is if it increases speed without reducing quality , but unless you’re buildings evals specific to your codebase watching like a hawk, simpler answer is live with a little speed hit and just go from source every time

I still can’t get over the overall framing of “codebases for humans” vs “codebases for agents”

And also mintlify/docs in general probably serve as one of those “primary sources” if your codebase is closed and your users’ agents need a primary source to integrate it

## Quoted post @jsnnsa

> No. We've got to stop applying old human-centric patterns to working in the new era.
> 
> delete all your wikis.
> have an agent answer questions from source instead.
> 
> at spawn we have:
> - zero dashboard tools
> - zero docs
> - we do not make or use summaries
> 
> everything we do is primary sources + intelligence
> 
> Nothing to go stale
> Nothing to organize
> Nothing to navigate
> Always exactly up to date
> Perfectly personalized
> The answers get better with every model
> 
> If we want to see a chart, we ask for it, and we have it in a minute
> 
> If we want an answer to a question, we ask it, and we have a to-the-minute correct answer

https://x.com/jsnnsa/status/2115991082936967438