AI CodingYour AI Pair Programmer
AI won't replace programmers — but it's changing the job. The best developers use AI to handle repetitive tasks, debug faster, and focus on architecture and problem-solving. Think of AI as a junior developer who knows every language and framework, but still needs your guidance.
What Can AI Do for Developers?
AI coding assistants help with every part of the development process
Write Code from Descriptions
Describe what you want in plain English, and AI generates working code.
"Create a Python function that takes a list of numbers and returns the top 3 highest values"
Explain Existing Code
Paste code you don't understand and get a clear explanation.
"Explain what this regex does: ^[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}$"
Debug and Fix Errors
Share error messages and code, and AI helps identify and fix the problem.
"I'm getting 'TypeError: cannot read property of undefined'. Here's my code..."
Refactor and Improve
Get suggestions to make your code cleaner, faster, or more maintainable.
"How can I refactor this function to be more readable and efficient?"
Write Tests
Generate unit tests, integration tests, and test cases automatically.
"Write Jest tests for this React component with edge cases"
Learn New Technologies
Get explanations, examples, and tutorials for any language or framework.
"Show me how to use React hooks with a practical example"
Best AI Coding Tools
Different tools for different workflows. Most developers use a combination
GitHub Copilot
AI pair programmer that suggests code as you type, directly in your IDE.
Best for: Real-time code completion and in-editor suggestions
$10-19/month
ChatGPT
Conversational AI for explaining code, debugging, and generating solutions.
Best for: Complex debugging, learning concepts, and longer code generation
Free / $20/month
Claude
Excellent at understanding large codebases and detailed explanations.
Best for: Analyzing large files, detailed documentation, and thoughtful refactoring
Free / $20/month
Cursor
AI-first code editor built for pair programming with AI.
Best for: Full IDE experience with AI deeply integrated into the workflow
Free / $20/month
How to Prompt AI for Code
Better prompts = better code. These techniques get dramatically better results
Specify the Language and Framework
❌ Weak prompt
"How do I make an API call?"
✓ Strong prompt
"How do I make a GET request in Python using the requests library and handle errors properly?"
Why: AI knows dozens of ways to make API calls. Be specific about your tech stack.
Include Context and Constraints
❌ Weak prompt
"Write a login function"
✓ Strong prompt
"Write a login function for a Node.js Express app using bcrypt for password hashing. It should validate email format and return JWT tokens."
Why: Context helps AI generate code that fits your actual project.
Share Relevant Code
❌ Weak prompt
"Why doesn't my function work?"
✓ Strong prompt
"This function returns undefined instead of the expected array. Here's the function: [code]. Here's how I'm calling it: [code]. Here's the error: [error]"
Why: AI can't see your screen. Share the actual code and error messages.
Ask for Explanations
❌ Weak prompt
"Fix this bug"
✓ Strong prompt
"Fix this bug and explain what was wrong and why your solution works"
Why: Understanding the fix helps you learn and avoid similar bugs.
Request Best Practices
❌ Weak prompt
"Write a database query"
✓ Strong prompt
"Write a database query for [task]. Follow best practices for security (prevent SQL injection), performance (use indexes), and error handling."
Why: AI can write quick-and-dirty or production-ready code — you choose.
AI Coding Use Cases
Which tool to use for which task
Daily Development
Debugging
Learning
Testing
Copy-Paste Prompt Templates
Ready-to-use prompts for common coding tasks
Generate a Function
Template
Write a [LANGUAGE] function that [DESCRIPTION]. Include: - Input validation - Error handling - Comments explaining the logic - Example usage
Debug Code
Template
I'm getting this error: [ERROR MESSAGE] Here's my code: ``` [YOUR CODE] ``` What's causing the error and how do I fix it? Explain the root cause.
Explain Code
Template
Explain this code step by step. What does each part do? What are the edge cases I should be aware of? ``` [CODE] ```
Write Tests
Template
Write comprehensive tests for this function using [TEST FRAMEWORK]. Include: - Happy path tests - Edge cases - Error handling tests ``` [FUNCTION CODE] ```
Refactor Code
Template
Refactor this code for better: - Readability - Performance - Maintainability Explain each change you make. ``` [CODE] ```
Common Mistakes
Blindly copying AI code
✗ Don't
Using AI-generated code without reviewing it
✓ Do
Always review, understand, and test AI-generated code before using it
Why: AI can generate code that looks right but has subtle bugs or security issues
Not providing enough context
✗ Don't
Asking for generic code without project details
✓ Do
Share relevant files, dependencies, and constraints with your prompts
Why: Without context, AI generates generic code that may not fit your project
Expecting perfect code first try
✗ Don't
Giving up after the first response
✓ Do
Iterate: generate → review → refine → test. Multiple rounds get better results
Why: AI is a collaborator, not a perfect code generator
Using AI instead of learning
✗ Don't
Never understanding the code you use
✓ Do
Ask AI to explain the code. Use it to accelerate learning, not skip it
Why: If you never understand the code, you can't debug or extend it
Sharing sensitive data
✗ Don't
Pasting API keys and passwords into prompts
✓ Do
Remove sensitive data before sharing code. Use placeholders
Why: API keys, passwords, and proprietary code may be stored or logged