When to use AI for coding

I’m convinced devs have difficulties using LLMs for coding because many don’t know WHEN to use it. There’s 3 options at any one time:

1. Code without AI - Code it yourself entirely
2. Code with AI - Code it yourself but with AI as assistant
3. Code by AI - Code it entirely using AI

When to use which?

1. Code without AI:

• when it’s an obscure library or package
• when it’s too niche and unique to your code
• when training data, resources, documentation on the internet is scarce
• when you know the solution and can already see the code in your head

2. Code with AI:

• when you’re half sure or unsure and need some ideas or help
• when you don’t trust AI to do this 100%
• when you’ve been going in circles with AI
• when you want to learn fast

3. Code by AI:

• when it’s boilerplate part of the code
• when it’s common and popular, lots of resources and conventions
• when you know what good looks like and can vet the AI’s outputs

I think most of the issues devs face when using AI for code is when they do #3 for something that should be #1.

On flip side, the argument for not using AI by skeptics because you’ll get worse at coding is silly because they think #1 when a situation just calls for #3.

So why the all-or-nothing thinking?

For #1 situations, just code it yourself because AI will be slower. If it’s boring boilerplate part of the codebase, use #3, it’s faster.

You can mix, you know.