AI Coding - The State of AI Today

Hey everyone! 👋 We need to have a real talk about AI coding assistants. I've been seeing a lot of hype lately about how "AI is going to replace developers" or "AI can build entire applications for you." Let me tell you why that's not quite right, based on my daily experience working with these tools.

Here's the Thing - It's Like a Junior Dev

After months of hands-on experience with AI coding tools, I started telling people something that surprises them: "Actually, it's more like working with a junior developer." And I mean that in the most literal way possible.

Think about it:

What Makes It Like a Junior Dev?

• Knows all the syntax and documentation by heart
• Super enthusiastic about helping with any task
• Can crank out basic features quickly
• Great at following patterns it's seen before
• Needs constant supervision and code review
• Will confidently make mistakes if not guided

Sound familiar? It's exactly like working with a junior developer who's memorized the docs but needs mentoring on real-world applications.

The Reality Check

Here's what I keep having to explain to people:

What AI Actually Does Well

• Writes boilerplate code really fast (this part is amazing!)
• Implements patterns you clearly describe
• Helps debug simple issues
• Explains code concepts
• Suggests improvements to existing code

What People Think AI Can Do (But It Can't)

• Design entire systems from scratch
• Make architectural decisions
• Understand your business requirements
• Write perfectly secure code
• Replace senior developers

I can't tell you how many times I've had to say "No, you can't just tell it to 'build me a Twitter clone' and get a production-ready app."

Working With AI (The Right Way)

Let me share how I actually use these tools effectively:

My Approach

1. Be the Senior Dev It Needs

   • Give clear, specific requirements
   • Break down complex tasks
   • Review everything it writes
   • Expect and catch mistakes

2. Guide It Like a Junior Team Member

   • Don't expect it to read your mind
   • Provide context and constraints
   • Correct its assumptions
   • Teach it your patterns

3. Stay in Control

   • You make the architectural decisions
   • You define the patterns
   • You catch the edge cases
   • You ensure security and best practices

Common Misconceptions I Keep Fighting

Let me debunk some things I hear way too often:

1. "AI will replace developers"

   • No, it's a tool that needs a skilled developer to use it effectively

2. "AI can build entire applications"

   • It can help with parts, but you need to architect and guide the process

3. "AI code is production-ready"

   • Every line needs review, just like with a junior dev

4. "AI understands best practices"

   • It needs to be explicitly told and guided toward best practices

The Right Mental Model

Instead of thinking of AI as some magical code generator, think of it as:

• A junior developer who needs mentoring
• A powerful tool that amplifies YOUR skills
• A helper that needs YOUR guidance
• A team member that needs YOUR review

Looking Forward

Here's my prediction: AI isn't replacing developers anytime soon. Instead, the developers who learn to effectively mentor and guide AI tools (just like they would junior devs) will have a significant advantage. It's not about replacement - it's about augmentation.

Let's Discuss

I'm really curious - what misconceptions about AI have you encountered? How do you explain AI's real capabilities to your team? Let me know over on X!

P.S. If you're interested in learning more about working with AI tools effectively, check out my post about Bolt, where I share specific strategies for getting the most out of AI assistance.