AI Coding Assistants: Maximizing Developer Productivity

From Skeptic to 2x Faster

"I don't need AI to write my code."

That was me six months ago. I'd tried Copilot, found it generated garbage, and turned it off. Then I watched a colleague ship a feature in half my time - same complexity, same quality. The difference: they knew how to use the tools.

AI coding assistants aren't magic. They're power tools. A chainsaw in untrained hands is dangerous and slow. In trained hands, it's transformative.

The Comment-First Pattern

Don't wait for suggestions. Tell the AI what you want:

// Validate email format using RFC 5322 regex
// Return { valid: boolean, error?: string }
// Handle edge cases: empty string, null, unicode
function validateEmail(email: string | null) {
  // AI generates implementation here
}

> If you only remember one thing: Detailed comments produce better code. The AI reads your comments as specifications.

Context Is Everything

AI suggestions are only as good as the context. Maximize it:

Descriptive file names: user-authentication.ts > utils.ts

Clear type definitions: Types are documentation the AI reads

Relevant imports visible: Keep related code in view

Example usage in comments: Show what you expect

> Pro tip: Open related files in split view. More context = better suggestions.

Test-First Generation

Write the test, let AI write the implementation:

describe('calculateDiscount', () => {
  it('applies 10% for orders over $100', () => {
    expect(calculateDiscount(150)).toBe(15);
  });
  it('returns 0 for orders under $100', () => {
    expect(calculateDiscount(50)).toBe(0);
  });
});

// Now let AI implement calculateDiscount

The test IS the specification. AI fills in the implementation to pass.

When to Turn It Off

> Watch out: AI assistants can hurt more than help for:

Security-critical code (review everything manually)

Complex architectural decisions (you need to think)

Performance-critical sections (AI doesn't optimize well)

Novel algorithms (AI copies patterns, doesn't innovate)

Best Practices Checklist

[ ] Review everything - AI makes mistakes. You own the code.

[ ] Keep files focused - Smaller files = better suggestions

[ ] Learn shortcuts - Tab to accept, Esc to reject, Ctrl+Enter for alternatives

[ ] Maintain standards - Consistent style trains better suggestions

[ ] Know when to disable - Some tasks need human thought

FAQ

Q: Copilot vs Cursor vs others - which is best?

Try them. Copilot integrates seamlessly with VS Code. Cursor has better chat UX. Personal preference matters more than benchmarks.

Q: Is AI-generated code safe to ship?

Only after review. Treat it like code from a junior developer - helpful but needs checking.

Q: Will AI replace developers?

No. It replaces typing, not thinking. The hard parts of software engineering aren't typing speed.