Building with AI

AI tools have transformed how I build. Here's what I've learned.

The mindset shift

AI isn't a replacement. It's a force multiplier.

Think of it as a junior developer who:

• Never sleeps
• Knows everything
• Makes mistakes
• Needs review

Practical use cases

Code generation

• Boilerplate: Let AI handle the boring stuff
• Tests: Generate test cases from code
• Documentation: Auto-generate docs from functions

Debugging

• Explain errors: "What does this error mean?"
• Suggest fixes: "How would you solve this?"
• Alternative approaches: "Is there a better way?"

Learning

• Explain concepts: "Teach me X like I'm 5"
• Compare technologies: "React vs Vue for X"
• Best practices: "How should I structure this?"

The risks

1. Over-reliance: You still need to understand fundamentals
2. Hallucinations: Verify everything
3. Security: Never share sensitive code
4. Homogenization: AI optimizes for average

My workflow

1. Write the problem clearly
2. Ask AI for a solution
3. Review and understand the code
4. Test thoroughly
5. Iterate

The key is understanding what AI gives you, not just accepting it.

AI makes you faster. Understanding makes you better.