Why this Claude Code engineer uses HTML files as AI specs | Thariq Shihipar (Anthropic)
Thariq Shihipar is an engineer at Anthropic working on the Claude Code team. He’s spent the past several months experimenting with HTML as a replacement for Markdown in planning and implementation workflows, discovering that richer visual formats lead to better human engagement—and, ultimately, better products. In this episode, filmed at Anthropic’s Code with Claude event in San Francisco, Thariq demonstrates how to use HTML artifacts to create interactive plans, build throwaway UIs for specific problems, and maintain living design systems that travel with your codebase. *What you’ll learn:* 1. Why HTML has replaced Markdown as the ideal format for AI agent communication and planning 2. How to brainstorm in HTML to get visual mockups and interactive demos instead of text lists 3. The technique for building throwaway micro-UIs to edit specific parts of your plan 4. How to create a living design system in HTML that lives in your repo and travels with every project 5. Why “complexity has to earn its keep” and how HTML helps you stay in the loop without over-constraining Claude 6. The prompting technique that gives Claude flexibility while ensuring that you get what you need 7. Why 99% of your AI-generated tokens should go to planning, interfaces, and communication—not production code *Brought to you by:* Celigo—Intelligent automation built for AI: https://celigo.com/howIAI Persona—Trusted identity verification for any use case: https://withpersona.com/lp/howiai *In this episode, we cover:* (00:00) Introduction (02:39) HTML as the new Markdown (04:30) The compute allocator mindset (05:51) How HTML makes specs more engaging (06:48) Demo: Brainstorming in HTML with Claude Code (09:24) From brainstorm to full implementation plan (11:20) Prompting philosophy: Trust Claude but give it constraints (13:50) The future of PRDs and tech specs (18:16) Making HTML specs editable (20:23) The abundance mindset (24:17) Just-in-time documentation and throwaway software (25:39) Using plans as artifacts for implementation (26:39) Demo: Living design systems in HTML (30:16) Adding comments and annotations to HTML plans (31:42) Recap: The HTML workflow (32:21) Lightning round and final thoughts *Blog* How I AI: Thariq Shihipar on Replacing Markdown with HTML for AI-Powered Development: https://www.chatprd.ai/how-i-ai/claude-code-anthropic-thariq-shihipar-on-replacing-markdown-with-html *Detailed workflow walkthroughs:* ↳ Generate a Living HTML Design System with AI for UI Consistency: https://www.chatprd.ai/how-i-ai/workflows/generate-a-living-html-design-system-with-ai-for-ui-consistency ↳ Build Disposable Micro-Apps with AI to Edit Complex Plans: https://www.chatprd.ai/how-i-ai/workflows/build-disposable-micro-apps-with-ai-to-edit-complex-plans ↳ Create Interactive HTML Project Plans with AI for Better Visualization: https://www.chatprd.ai/how-i-ai/workflows/create-interactive-html-project-plans-with-ai-for-better-visualization *Tools referenced:* • Claude Code: https://claude.ai/code • Claude Design: https://claude.ai/design • AWS: https://aws.amazon.com/ • Figma: https://www.figma.com/ • GitHub: https://github.com/ *Other references:* • Anthropic Code with Claude event: https://claude.com/code-with-claude • SpaceX partnership announcement: https://www.anthropic.com/news/higher-limits-spacex • Jevons paradox: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox *Where to find Thariq Shihipar:* Website: https://www.thariq.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thariqshihipar/ X: https://x.com/trq212 GitHub: https://github.com/ThariqS *Where to find Claire Vo:* ChatPRD: https://www.chatprd.ai/ Website: https://clairevo.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairevo/ X: https://x.com/clairevo _Production and marketing by https://penname.co/._ _For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email jordan@penname.co._
