AI-Assisted Development

#ai #development #wordpress #techinnovation

🚀 I just built a production-ready WordPress plugin in 3h40 using AI. Here's how it changed my perspective on development.
The Challenge:
I needed a plugin to insert newsletter forms at exactly 60% of article content. Sounds simple? Try finding that in the WordPress repository. Everything was either too basic or overkill (looking at you, $300/year solutions for one feature).
The AI Dream Team:
Instead of coding solo, I orchestrated 3 AI tools:

ChatGPT: Requirements analysis & strategic planning
Gemini CLI: Core development (15 min active time, 82% API success rate)
GitHub Copilot: Code polishing & WordPress standards compliance

The Results:
✅ Functional on first deployment
✅ Zero debugging sessions needed
✅ Passed all WordPress quality checks
✅ 100% agreement rate on proposed solutions
✅ 3h40 total vs estimated 2-3 days traditional development
The Real Learning:
This isn't about AI replacing developers. It's about evolving into technical conductors who focus on:

Architecture & strategy
User experience
Quality oversight
Creative problem-solving

While AI handles the repetitive implementation work.
Key Success Factors:

Crystal-clear requirements upfront
Right tool for each phase
Human oversight at every step
Strategic prompt engineering

The plugin now runs in production, collecting emails with Swiss watch precision. But more importantly, I've discovered a replicable methodology that scales beyond WordPress.
Question for the community:
Have you experimented with AI-assisted development? What were your biggest surprises—positive or negative?
The future isn't human vs AI—it's human with AI, playing to each other's strengths.

Want the complete methodology and detailed metrics? Full breakdown on Medium 👇
https://medium.com/@pascal.cescato/how-i-built-a-wordpress-plugin-in-3h40-with-ai-a-new-development-paradigm-a5e4e41a3ad5

The plugin is open source on GitHub (https://github.com/pcescato/newsletter-optin-block) if you want to see the actual code that emerged from this process. You can find it on WordPress too: https://wordpress.org/plugins/newsletter-optin-block/