How can you do better (or succeed more) with AI coding tools?

Senior engineers who use AI tools (co-pilot, claude.ai, cursor, etc.) are like master chefs who know when to use the microwave and when to actually cook with fire.

Here are some of the bold aspects I’ve noticed in the past year:

• Senior developers use AI for rapid prototyping—like throwing spaghetti at the wall, but with code. For example, instead of spending 3 hours googling “how to center a div” (we’ve all been there), they ask AI to whip up 5 different approaches in 30 seconds. This not only saves precious time but also allows them to explore various solutions they might not have considered on their own, enhancing creativity and efficiency in the coding process. By quickly generating multiple code snippets, they can easily compare methods and implement the most effective one, leading to faster development cycles and improved software quality.

• They try to understand how the generated code works instead of treating it like those mysterious ingredients in hot dogs. For example, When AI generates a function, they don’t copy-paste it like a magic spell. They’re like, “Hey, what’s this ‘forEach’ thing doing? And why are we using ‘===’ instead of ‘==’?”

• Developers learn essential programming concepts alongside AI usage—it’s like learning to drive while having a very knowledgeable (but occasionally hallucinating) GPS. Always know where you are going; don’t follow Google Maps like a blind person. I saw many cases where a junior developer was using AI, and it was like a blind person who led another blind person on this orienteering event.

• They use AI as a learning tool, not just a code generator—it’s their coding sensei, not their homework-doing robot. For example, they ask, “Explain how this React XYZ component works,” and “What would happen if I changed this Z parameter?”

• They gradually build up knowledge and use AI to improve their understanding of the code.

But here’s the kicker—this requires patience and dedication, which is exactly what most people were trying to avoid when they thought AI would turn them into ‘ninja’ developers overnight.

Spoiler alert: becoming a competent developer is more like making a fine wine than instant ramen.

Cheers 🍷