AI coding agents are transforming how we write C++ code and come with a growing extensibility stack. Between hooks, skills, and MCP servers it's not obvious when to reach for which in your day to day workflow. This talk demonstrates the differences through demos in a real C++ codebase. We'll build a hook that runs the project's linter and lets the agent fix any issues it finds, create a skill to flag C++ performance pitfalls, and use an MCP server to verify portability across compilers, with each technique solving a problem the others can't. Along the way, you'll see how these mechanisms compose into a single workflow. Whether you're just getting started with AI tooling or already using it daily, you'll leave knowing exactly which tool to reach for and how to get the most out of your AI coding agent for C++ development.
