In 2025, embracing AI-assisted coding for paying customers is a no-brainer, as we all know of the productivity advantage it ushers us into. AI coding changes things, and at a relatively faster pace.
With this power comes great responsibility. Engineers are now able to do so much in little time. Automatic documentation by just looking at the existing code, writing of unit test cases has improved if done, churning out code to build features or fix bugs in a matter of minutes, if not seconds.
While all of these are helpful, it is very easy for engineers to lose quality focus. You tend to ship bugs faster while also shipping products faster. We become lazier (not in the Bill Gates type of laziness).
A subtle yet powerful mindset shift can resolve this issue to a much greater extent. Start calling your users "customers"; the effect will be psychological. This will help you ensure you always provide quality work for them. Because every line of code, whether written by you or AI, can frustrate your customers. Take more time to review, document, and write unit test cases.
When you start adopting this, you should start seeing more quality work, as you wouldn't want customers to be frustrated. You also tend to communicate expectations more effectively, keeping your tech lead or product managers informed, who are then responsible for letting customers know what to expect.
Action Items
- Review all code, whether written by AI or by you.
- Write documentation on how things are built and some architecture decisions.
- Communication is needed in this AI era; let other team members know what you are doing or what to expect from you.
- Use AI to enhance quality, not just speed.
Remember, don't sacrifice speed for quality; your customers will thank you.
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