DEV Community: Kushyar Rashidzadeh

🚀 7 AI APIs Every Web Developer Should Try in 2026

Kushyar Rashidzadeh — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:16:34 +0000

🚀 7 AI APIs Every Web Developer Should Try in 2026

You don't need to train your own AI model to add AI features to a web application.

A few API calls can give your app access to text generation, image generation, voice, speech-to-text, and more.

Here are 7 AI APIs worth experimenting with if you're a web developer.

1. OpenAI API 🤖

If you want to add AI-generated text, structured data, or AI-powered features to a web application, the OpenAI API is one of the easiest places to start.

You can use it for things like:

AI chat
Content generation
Summarization
Data extraction
Structured JSON responses
AI assistants

A simple request can look like this:

const response = await fetch("https://api.openai.com/v1/responses", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY}`,
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: "gpt-5",
    input: "Explain React hooks in simple terms.",
  }),
});

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);

Best for: AI features that need text, reasoning, or structured output.

2. Google Gemini API 🧠

Google's Gemini API is another great option for building AI-powered applications.

One of the interesting parts is its multimodal capabilities, which means you can build applications that work with more than just text.

You can use Gemini for:

Chatbots
Text generation
Image understanding
Document analysis
Multimodal applications

For example:

const response = await fetch(
  "https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/models/gemini-2.5-flash:generateContent",
  {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      "x-goog-api-key": process.env.GEMINI_API_KEY,
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      contents: [
        {
          parts: [
            {
              text: "Give me 5 ideas for a developer portfolio.",
            },
          ],
        },
      ],
    }),
  }
);

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);

Best for: Multimodal applications and general AI features.

3. Anthropic Claude API 🦀

Claude is another popular option for developers building AI-powered applications.

Its API can be useful for:

Long-form text generation
Summarization
Document analysis
Coding assistants
AI agents

A basic request looks like this:

const response = await fetch("https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    "x-api-key": process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY,
    "anthropic-version": "2023-06-01",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: "claude-sonnet-4-5",
    max_tokens: 1024,
    messages: [
      {
        role: "user",
        content: "Explain closures in JavaScript.",
      },
    ],
  }),
});

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);

Best for: Text-heavy applications, coding tools, and document-based workflows.

4. Replicate 🎨

Replicate is interesting because you aren't limited to one AI model.

It provides an API for running models that other developers and organizations have published, so you can experiment with different models without managing the infrastructure yourself.

You can use it for things like:

Image generation
Image editing
Video generation
Speech
Open-source AI models

A prediction can be created through its API:

const response = await fetch(
  "https://api.replicate.com/v1/predictions",
  {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.REPLICATE_API_TOKEN}`,
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      version: "MODEL_VERSION_ID",
      input: {
        prompt: "A futuristic developer workspace",
      },
    }),
  }
);

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);

Best for: Experimenting with different AI models and generative media.

5. ElevenLabs 🔊

Want to add an AI voice to your application?

ElevenLabs provides APIs for generating speech from text, with different voices and models.

You could use it to build:

AI voice assistants
Audiobook apps
Voice-based interfaces
Podcast tools
Accessibility features

For example:

const response = await fetch(
  "https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/text-to-speech/VOICE_ID",
  {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      "xi-api-key": process.env.ELEVENLABS_API_KEY,
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      text: "Hello from my web application!",
      model_id: "eleven_multilingual_v2",
    }),
  }
);

const audio = await response.arrayBuffer();

Best for: Text-to-speech and voice-powered applications.

6. Groq ⚡

Groq is worth checking out if you're interested in fast AI inference.

Its API is OpenAI-compatible, so developers familiar with OpenAI-style APIs can get started without learning an entirely different approach.

For example:

const response = await fetch(
  "https://api.groq.com/openai/v1/chat/completions",
  {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.GROQ_API_KEY}`,
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      model: "openai/gpt-oss-20b",
      messages: [
        {
          role: "user",
          content: "Give me a JavaScript project idea.",
        },
      ],
    }),
  }
);

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);

Best for: Fast AI-powered applications and experimenting with different models.

7. AssemblyAI 🎙️

Not every AI feature needs a chatbot.

Sometimes you just need to turn audio into text.

That's where AssemblyAI comes in.

You can use its API for applications involving:

Speech-to-text
Meeting transcription
Podcast transcription
Audio search
Voice-based applications

A basic transcription request can look like:

const response = await fetch(
  "https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/transcript",
  {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      Authorization: process.env.ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY,
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      audio_url: "https://example.com/audio.mp3",
    }),
  }
);

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);

Best for: Building applications that understand spoken audio.

Which one should you try?

It depends on what you're building.

API	Good for
OpenAI	Text, reasoning, structured output
Gemini	Multimodal AI
Claude	Text, coding, documents
Replicate	Different AI models & generative media
ElevenLabs	Voice & text-to-speech
Groq	Fast AI inference
AssemblyAI	Speech-to-text

The interesting part is that you don't need to become an AI engineer to start experimenting with these.

If you can make an HTTP request, you can start building AI features.

And that's probably the best way to learn:

Don't just use AI tools. Build something with them. 🚀

Which AI API would you add to the list?

Vibe Coding Isn't the Problem. Not Understanding Your Code Is...

Kushyar Rashidzadeh — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:55:08 +0000

Vibe coding gets a lot of criticism.

And honestly, some of it is deserved.

But I don't think vibe coding itself is the problem.

The problem is what happens when we stop thinking because AI can do the thinking for us.

AI made writing code cheap

A few years ago, building a small application meant spending hours searching through documentation, writing boilerplate, debugging syntax errors, and figuring out how different pieces fit together.

Now you can describe what you want:

"Build a login form with validation, loading states, and error handling."

And a few seconds later, you have something that works.

That's incredible.

And there's nothing inherently wrong with using it.

The problem starts when the developer sees the result and thinks:

"It works. Ship it."

The dangerous part isn't the generated code

It's the lack of understanding behind it.

Imagine AI generates this:

const fetchUser = async () => {
  const response = await fetch("/api/user");
  const data = await response.json();

  return data;
};

Looks fine.

You run it.

It works.

Ship it.

Until the API returns a 500.

Or returns invalid JSON.

Or the user isn't authenticated.

Or the request takes 20 seconds.

Or the component calling it gets unmounted.

The code wasn't necessarily bad.

You just never asked what happens when things go wrong.

That's the difference between:

"AI wrote my code."

and

"I used AI to help me write my code."

The same thing happens with React

Ask an AI to fix a React state problem and you might get something like:

const addItem = (item) => {
  items.push(item);
  setItems(items);
};

Looks reasonable at first glance.

But React state shouldn't be mutated like this.

A better approach is:

const addItem = (item) => {
  setItems(prev => [...prev, item]);
};

If you understand React's state model, you'll probably catch the problem immediately.

If you don't, you might just copy the first version because:

"The AI generated it."

That's where vibe coding becomes dangerous.

AI doesn't remove the need to understand code

It changes where your effort goes.

You might spend less time writing:

boilerplate
repetitive functions
basic components
configuration
straightforward CRUD logic

But you still need to spend time on:

architecture
debugging
security
performance
edge cases
testing
maintainability
understanding trade-offs

In fact, I think these things become more important when AI writes more of the code.

Because reviewing 500 lines of unfamiliar AI-generated code isn't necessarily easier than writing 500 lines yourself.

The real skill is becoming judgment

AI can give you five different implementations.

Which one should you use?

AI can generate a database query.

Is it efficient?

AI can write authentication logic.

Is it secure?

AI can generate a test.

Does the test actually test anything meaningful?

AI can refactor your component.

Did the refactor introduce a subtle bug?

Those aren't syntax questions.

They're engineering questions.

And they're still yours.

So, is vibe coding bad?

Not necessarily.

If you're building a weekend project, experimenting with an idea, or trying to understand a new technology, there's nothing wrong with telling an AI what you want and iterating quickly.

That's one of the most useful things about these tools.

The problem is when speed replaces understanding.

There's a huge difference between:

"I don't need to write every line myself."

and

"I don't need to know what these lines do."

The first one is productivity.

The second one is technical debt waiting to happen.

AI should be your accelerator, not your autopilot

I don't think developers need to prove themselves by manually writing every line of code anymore.

That's not the point.

The point is knowing enough to question the output.

Read the generated code.

Change it.

Break it.

Debug it.

Ask why it works.

Ask why it doesn't work.

And most importantly:

Don't merge code just because an AI told you it's correct.

AI can dramatically increase how fast we build software.

But someone still needs to understand what is being built.

And right now, that someone is still you.

What's your take?

Is vibe coding making developers more productive, or are we creating a generation of developers who can build things they don't fully understand?

⚠️ Most Developers Are Using AI Wrong — Here’s How to Fix It

Kushyar Rashidzadeh — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 20:58:02 +0000

AI isn’t just hype — it’s a developer productivity boost.
But most devs are using it wrong.

Here’s the truth: blindly copying AI code or prompts can slow you down instead of speeding you up. Let’s fix that.

1️⃣ Stop Treating AI as a Magic Copy-Paste Machine

AI is great at generating code, but it doesn’t know your project context.

❌ Problem: No error handling, no context, might break your app.

✅ Fix: Always review and adapt. Add proper error handling:

2️⃣ Use Better Prompts — Not Longer Ones

Most devs throw vague instructions at AI:

“Write a function that does stuff.”

Better: give clear, structured prompts:

Write a JS function that fetches JSON from a URL, handles errors, and returns the result. Use async/await.

💡 Pro tip: Think like a teacher explaining to a beginner — clear and precise.

3️⃣ Don’t Ignore Performance

AI-generated code can be inefficient or unoptimized.

Example: using .map() inside .map() unnecessarily.

✅ Fix: Always review for time and space complexity, especially in loops, async calls, and API-heavy code.

4️⃣ Validate AI Output

AI makes mistakes. Always:

Test code before deploying
Run security checks
Look for edge cases

💡 Think of AI as a helper, not a senior dev you can blindly trust.

5️⃣ Combine AI With Your Knowledge

The real power comes when your brain + AI work together.

Let AI draft functions
You refactor and integrate
You document and test

🚀 That’s the secret to using AI efficiently without creating technical debt.

🎯 Final Thoughts

AI is a force multiplier, not a replacement.

Stop copy-pasting blindly.
Stop vague prompts.
Stop trusting AI to “know everything.”

Use it wisely, and your productivity will skyrocket.

AI can be a dev’s secret weapon — if you actually know how to wield it. ⚡

🤖 How to Add AI to Your Website (Even If You’re Not an ML Expert)

Kushyar Rashidzadeh — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:53:13 +0000

You don’t need a PhD in machine learning to make your website smart.
Thanks to modern APIs, you can plug AI into your project with just a few lines of JavaScript.

Let’s walk through three simple ways to add AI to your website — no model training, no GPU setup, no stress.

💬 1. Add an AI Chatbot with OpenAI

Want to let users chat with your site?
Use OpenAI’s Chat Completion API — it’s straightforward and works anywhere you can run JS.

💡 Embed this in a chat UI built with React, Next.js, or even vanilla HTML for instant interaction.

🧠 2. Use AI to Summarize Content

Want shorter blog previews or TL;DR sections?
You can feed article text into an API to generate concise summaries automatically.

💡 Perfect for blogs, dashboards, or knowledge bases.

🎨 3. Generate Images with Stability AI

Turn user input into visuals using Stability AI.
It’s great for creative or personalization features (like profile pics, thumbnails, or concept art).

💡 One endpoint = instant visual magic.

⚡ Bonus Idea: Combine Them

You can mix these features for AI-powered experiences, like:

AI chatbots that generate images on command 🎨
Smart documentation assistants 💬
Dynamic product recommendation bots 🛍️

🎯 Final Thoughts

Adding AI to your website isn’t about reinventing the wheel — it’s about using the tools already available to you.
Start small, experiment, and soon your site will feel like it has a brain of its own.

AI isn’t coming — it’s already here. The question is: will your website keep up?

⚡10 JavaScript Concepts You Thought You Knew (But Didn’t)

Kushyar Rashidzadeh — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:54:10 +0000

JavaScript looks simple — until it isn’t.
Even if you’ve been writing JS for years, there are small things that quietly behave in unexpected ways.

Here are 10 JavaScript concepts that often fool even experienced developers 👇

🧩 1. == vs ===

== does type coercion, while === doesn’t.
But did you know these?

💡 Lesson: always use === unless you enjoy debugging existential crises.

🌀 2. this isn’t what you think

this depends on how a function is called, not where it’s written.

💡 Lesson: use arrow functions or .bind() when passing methods around.

🔄 3. Closures aren’t just for interviews

Closures happen anytime a function “remembers” variables from its parent scope.

💡 Closures power things like React hooks, private variables, and debounce functions.

🕳️ 4. var is secretly a time traveler

var is function-scoped, not block-scoped — and gets hoisted to the top.

💡 Use let and const — they save you from strange timeline bugs.

⚙️ 5. Hoisting isn’t just for variables

Functions get hoisted too — but only declarations, not expressions.

🧠 6. The Event Loop isn’t magic

It’s just a queue system.

setTimeout(fn, 0)

doesn’t run immediately — it goes to the queue.

💡 JS runs synchronously first, async tasks wait their turn.

⚡ 7. Objects compare by reference

Even if they look identical:

💡 Two separate objects never share the same reference.

🧩 8. typeof null is… “object”?!

Yes. It’s a 25-year-old bug that’s now part of the spec.

💡 Don’t trust typeof blindly. Use strict checks when needed.

🔍 9. Destructuring skips undefined

💡 Always give fallback values if you’re not sure about array/object shapes.

🚀 10. NaN isn’t equal to itself

💡 It’s the only value in JS that’s not equal to itself.

🎯 Final Thoughts

JavaScript keeps you humble — just when you think you’ve mastered it, it throws something weird your way.
But that’s also what makes it fun.

Keep experimenting, stay curious, and you’ll never stop leveling up as a developer.

⚙️ 5 AI Tools Every JavaScript Developer Should Try in 2025

Kushyar Rashidzadeh — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:12:30 +0000

AI isn’t replacing developers — it’s leveling them up.

And if you’re a JavaScript dev, there’s a whole toolbox of AI helpers ready to speed up your workflow, boost creativity, and save you hours of debugging pain.

Here are 5 AI tools you should definitely check out this year 👇

🧠 1. GitHub Copilot

Best for: Writing code faster.

Copilot is your AI pair programmer. It suggests entire functions, predicts your next line, and even helps with docs.
Built right into VS Code, it feels like autocomplete on steroids.

💡 Perfect for: repetitive logic, quick prototypes, or exploring new APIs.

💬 2. ChatGPT

Best for: Debugging, explanations, and creative coding ideas.

Ask it to refactor your messy functions, write regex (without tears), or explain confusing errors in plain English.
It’s like having a senior dev available 24/7.

💡 Try giving it your code and asking: “Explain this to me like I’m new to React.” You’ll be amazed.

⚡ 3. Codeium

Best for: Free, privacy-friendly AI autocomplete.

A powerful alternative to Copilot — supports multiple languages, works locally, and doesn’t require GitHub.
Fast, accurate, and built with developers in mind.

💡 If you love Copilot but hate subscriptions — this one’s for you.

🧩 4. Cody by Sourcegraph

Best for: Understanding large codebases.

Cody goes beyond autocomplete — it reads your entire repo, explains functions, and finds where things break.
It’s incredibly helpful for big teams or open-source projects.

💡 Think of it as “Ask AI about your codebase.”

🚀 5. Continue.dev

Best for: Embedding AI directly into your editor.

An open-source VS Code extension that connects to models like GPT-4, Claude, or Gemini.
You can customize prompts, tweak behaviors, and fully own your workflow.

💡 For devs who love open-source and flexibility.

🎯 Final Thoughts

You don’t have to use every AI tool — just the right ones.
Start by integrating one into your daily coding flow and see what sticks.

The future of JavaScript isn’t just about frameworks — it’s about AI-boosted productivity.
And the best time to experiment? Right now.

🧠 5 AI APIs Every Web Developer Should Try in 2025

Kushyar Rashidzadeh — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:42:21 +0000

AI is no longer a buzzword — it’s a toolbox. And as web developers, we can now plug intelligence right into our projects with just a few lines of code.

Here are 5 AI APIs that can level up your apps in 2025 — from text generation to image creation and even emotion detection.

⚡ 1. OpenAI API

Best for: Text generation, chatbots, and coding assistants.

The OG of AI APIs — OpenAI lets you generate human-like text, summarize content, or even build your own GPT-style chat app.

💡 Perfect for chatbots, auto-responses, or educational tools.

🎨 2. Stability AI (Stable Diffusion)

Best for: Image generation.

Turn text prompts into stunning visuals — perfect for marketing sites, blogs, or creative tools.
You can even let users generate their own images directly in your app.

💡 Think: user profile avatars, product mockups, or creative playgrounds.

🔊 3. AssemblyAI

Best for: Speech-to-text and audio intelligence.

Whether it’s transcribing podcasts or analyzing video calls, AssemblyAI makes working with audio super easy.
It supports speech recognition, summarization, and even sentiment analysis.

💡 Use it for meeting summaries, voice commands, or transcription apps.

🖼️ 4. Hugging Face Inference API

Best for: Trying tons of pre-trained models (text, vision, audio).

Hugging Face lets you use thousands of AI models without heavy setup — just an API call away.

💡 Example: Detect image objects, analyze emotions, or run your own mini GPT.

💬 5. Replicate

Best for: Running AI models easily in production.

Replicate hosts models like Stable Diffusion, Whisper, and Code Llama — all accessible through simple API calls.
You can even deploy your own models if you’re into ML tinkering.

💡 Great for prototypes, demos, or AI-backed SaaS apps.

🎯 Final Thoughts

AI is quickly becoming part of every developer’s toolkit.
You don’t have to train models — just use them.

Start small: add an AI-powered feature to your next React or Next.js project, and you’ll be surprised how much magic you can ship in a single weekend.

React vs Next.js: When to Use Which?

Kushyar Rashidzadeh — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:42:10 +0000

Many developers get stuck choosing between React and Next.js. Both are powerful tools for building web apps, but they serve slightly different purposes.

In this post, we’ll break down what each is best for, their differences, and when you should pick one over the other.

🧩 What is React?

React is a JavaScript library for building UI components. It’s focused on the frontend, enabling you to create dynamic single-page applications (SPAs).

Pros:

Flexible and widely adopted.
Huge ecosystem of libraries and tools.
Excellent for dynamic, interactive UIs.

Limitations:

No built-in routing or server-side rendering (SSR).
SEO requires extra setup.

🧩 What is Next.js?

Next.js is a React framework that adds features like server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and API routes.

Pros:

Better SEO out of the box.
File-based routing built-in.
Can handle full-stack apps with API routes.

Limitations:

Slightly steeper learning curve than plain React.
Less flexibility if you want full control over configuration.

⚡Key Differences

🔹 When to Use React

React shines when you want to build pure front-end applications without worrying about SEO. Think of it as your go-to tool for apps that live behind a login or don’t need to rank on Google.

👉 Perfect for:

Dashboards with charts, filters, and live data.
Admin panels for managing users or content.
Internal tools inside a company.
Simple SPAs where speed and flexibility matter more than SEO.

React is also the best starting point if you’re learning the fundamentals of modern frontend development before adding frameworks like Next.js.

🔹 When to Use Next.js

Next.js is React on steroids — it’s what you reach for when your project needs to be fast, SEO-friendly, and production-ready.

👉 Perfect for:

Blogs & content-heavy sites that should rank on search engines.
Marketing websites where first impressions and performance matter.
E-commerce stores where SEO + speed = more sales.
SaaS platforms that need a mix of frontend + backend (API routes).

If your site will be seen by the public and discovered by search engines, Next.js is almost always the better choice.

🎯 Conclusion

Think of it this way:

React is like a blank canvas. It gives you full freedom, but you need to bring your own tools. Great for SPAs, dashboards, and learning.

Next.js is like a well-equipped workshop. It comes with the tools you need — SEO, routing, SSR/SSG, and even backend APIs — ready to go. Perfect for anything public-facing or production-grade.

Both are incredible. The “right” choice depends on who will use your app and how they’ll find it.

5 JavaScript Tricks That Will Make You Look Like a Pro

Kushyar Rashidzadeh — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:29:59 +0000

JavaScript is everywhere — from tiny scripts to massive web apps. But what separates a beginner from a confident developer isn’t just knowing syntax, it’s knowing the little tricks that make code cleaner, shorter, and easier to maintain.

In this post, I’ll share 5 simple but powerful JavaScript tricks that can instantly level up your code and make you look like a pro.

1. Destructuring Assignment

Instead of accessing object properties one by one, you can “unpack” them directly.

✅ Cleaner, shorter, and easier to read.

2. Default Function Parameters

Avoid writing extra if checks by setting default values.

✅ No need to manually check for undefined.

3. Optional Chaining (?.)

No more “cannot read property of undefined” errors.

✅ Safely access deeply nested properties.

4. Nullish Coalescing (??)

Use a fallback only if the value is null or undefined.

✅ Unlike ||, it doesn’t override valid falsy values like 0 or "".

5. Template Literals

Make string building elegant with backticks.

✅ Easier to read, especially when mixing variables.

🎯 Conclusion

That’s it — five quick tricks to make your JavaScript code sharper and easier to maintain.

They might look small, but using features like destructuring, optional chaining, and template literals can make a big difference in how professional your code feels.

I’ll be sharing more practical tips and insights soon, so stay tuned for the next post 🚀

10 JavaScript One-Liners Every Developer Should Know (2025 Edition)

Kushyar Rashidzadeh — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:58:26 +0000

JavaScript is full of hidden gems. Many times, we end up writing long functions for tasks that can actually be solved in just a single line of code.

Here are 10 clever JavaScript one-liners that can simplify your code and speed up your workflow.

1. Reverse a String

Split the string into an array, reverse it, and join it back together.

2. Check if a String is a Palindrome

Compares the string with its reversed version.

3. Get a Random Number Between Two Values

Generates a random integer between min and max.

4. Shuffle an Array

Uses the array sort() method with a random comparator.

5. Get Unique Values from an Array

Set automatically removes duplicates.

6. Flatten a Nested Array

The flat() method with Infinity flattens arrays of any depth.

7. Capitalize the First Letter of a String

Quick way to make titles and labels look nice.

8. Get Query Parameters from a URL

Turns query parameters into a clean object.

9. Check if a Number is Even

Simple modulus check — quick and clean.

10. Generate a Random Hex Color

Handy for generating random colors for backgrounds or UI elements.

🎯 Conclusion

These one-liners show how powerful and concise JavaScript can be. Instead of writing 5–10 lines, you can often solve problems in just one line.

👉 Which one was your favorite? Do you know other cool one-liners?
Drop them in the comments — let’s build a collection together!

If you found this useful, follow me for more JavaScript, React, and Next.js tips 🚀