My Learnings Moving On with AI-Driven Development

As a developer, I’ve always been keen to explore new tools that make the process more efficient and enjoyable. AI-driven development is one of those areas that have significantly reshaped how I approach coding. Here are my key learnings from working with AI tools like Cline and VS Code.

Concept Is King

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that having a clear concept before starting any development task is crucial. Just like human developers, AI gets confused when there’s no well-defined direction. The difference? Every request to the AI costs money. Without a solid plan, you risk wasting both time and resources. AI tools excel when they have a framework to follow—so give them one.

AI Can Handle Complex Software Architecture Patterns

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well AI can deal with advanced software architecture patterns like Clean Architecture. This has been a blessing, especially when tackling larger projects. The AI’s ability to follow these patterns means I can focus on high-level decisions while it takes care of repetitive tasks.

Unit Tests: A Double-Edged Sword

AI-generated unit tests can be incredibly helpful. However, I’ve noticed that the AI tends to be overly restrictive at times. It’s akin to working with a human developer who insists on covering every edge case, sometimes at the expense of pragmatism. It’s important to strike a balance and intervene when the AI starts overdoing it.

Watch for Loops

One of the quirks of working with AI is its tendency to get stuck in loops. Whether it’s repeating suggestions or rephrasing the same code, it can become counterproductive. When this happens, it’s crucial to break the loop manually and steer the conversation in a new direction. Resetting the context often helps to get better results.

Start New Chats Frequently

I’ve learned that starting new chats as often as possible is essential. The more context the AI accumulates, the more expensive it gets, and the quicker it becomes confused. By resetting the chat, you ensure that the AI focuses on the task at hand without being weighed down by previous conversations.

Clean Your Open Tabs

Another surprising discovery is that AI tools seem to read your open tabs in VS Code. Keeping too many tabs open can lead to confusion, as the AI tries to make sense of everything at once. Before starting a new task, I always clean up my workspace to give the AI a fresh start. It’s a simple habit that can improve the overall experience significantly.

Final Thoughts

AI-driven development has been a game-changer for me, but it’s not without its quirks. The key to success is maintaining a clear concept, managing context carefully, and not relying too heavily on the AI’s suggestions without human oversight. By following these practices, I’ve been able to make the most of tools like Cline and VS Code, turning AI into a valuable assistant rather than a liability.