I've been coding for years, but nothing prepared me for how AI would transform my daily workflow. Here's what I've learned:
🔥 How AI Is Actually Helping Me Code Better
- From Googling to "Prompt Engineering"
· Instead of searching for hours, I now have conversations with AI
· But here's the catch: writing good prompts is the new superpower
· The better my questions, the better the answers
- AI as My 24/7 Pair Programmer
· Instant code reviews and suggestions
· "What edge cases am I missing? - AI actually catches them!
· Learning new frameworks in days instead of weeks
- The Creativity Multiplier
· "Show me 5 different ways to implement this feature"
· "Optimize this algorithm for better performance"
· AI doesn't replace my creativity - it amplifies it
⚠️ The Dark Side Nobody Talks About
The Copy-Paste Trap
I've seen developers blindly copy AI code without understanding it.This is dangerous because:
· You stop learning the "why" behind solutions
· Security vulnerabilities get copied without scrutiny
· When things break, you have no idea how to fix them
The Skill Erosion Risk
If we let AI do all the heavy lifting,are we still growing as engineers?
🚀 Here's How I'm Staying Relevant
Focus on Architecture, Not Implementation
AI writes great functions,but it can't design your entire system (yet!)Master the Art of Code Review
Now more than ever,we need to critically evaluate AI-generated codeDouble Down on Soft Skills
· Understanding business requirements
· Communicating with stakeholders
· Mentoring junior developers
- Become an AI Whisperer Learning to guide,correct, and collaborate with AI tools
💭 The Big Question
Are we becoming AI managers instead of coders? And is that a bad thing?
I'd love to hear your experience:
· How has AI changed YOUR coding workflow?
· Are you worried or excited about the future?
· What skills are you focusing on now?
Let's have an honest conversation about where our profession is heading! 👇
Top comments (23)
For me, AI has become like a coding companion for me. It helps me explore new areas I would’ve avoided before, simply because I didn’t feel confident enough, like diving into Django or front stack while my main expertise is in Java. It has truly expanded my learning horizon!
But as you said, it’s easy to fall into the copy-paste trap. I’ll be honest, on days when I’m low on energy, I sometimes skip deeper verification. But I’m learning to stay mindful and use AI as a tool with me, not for me 🤓
And for the skills, right now, I’m focusing on software architecture (as part of a new project at work) and building my freelance ecosystem through my side projects!
This is so well said! I love the phrase a tool with me, not for me that's the perfect mindset. It's amazing how it lowers the barrier to exploring new technologies. Good luck with the software architecture project and building your freelance ecosystem; that sounds like an exciting combination! Thanks for your comment 🙏🏻✨🥰
My main problem with AI is still the content theft. If that could ever be overcome, I'd feel a lot better using it in my everyday coding, but as long as all large AI models are trained on stolen content; as long as I have to block AI crawlers from my forgejo instance and see more and more sites add anubis to protect their infrastructure from the DDoS of AI data scraping, all AI is just blood diamonds to me. I want nothing to do with any of it if I can at all help it.
You've nailed the fundamental ethical dilemma. Until this is properly addressed, it will always be a stain on the technology
Amazing read, Yalda — I love how you captured both the potential and the pitfalls of AI in code. The “copy-paste trap” & skill erosion you mentioned really hit home. 👏
A few thoughts I’m curious about:
Thanks again for opening this conversation — I’d love to hear what others are doing to balance AI + craftsmanship.
Hey! Thanks for such a thoughtful comment.
That sweet spot question is something I wrestle with daily. For me, the rule of thumb is: if it's core to what I'm trying to learn, I do it manually. If it's boilerplate or a unfamiliar syntax, I let AI handle the first draft. It's a constant balance!
You're so right about the AI manager shift. I think critical thinking is becoming the 1 skill knowing when to trust the AI's output and when to question it. Clear communication is a close second.
For prompts, I don't really use formal resources. I just try to be specific and talk to it like a junior dev partner: "Here's my goal, here's the error I'm seeing, what's wrong? Giving it context is everything.
Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts! Curious, what's your own approach been like?
Hey! Thanks for such a thoughtful comment.
That sweet spot question is something I wrestle with daily. For me, the rule of thumb is: if it's core to what I'm trying to learn, I do it manually. If it's boilerplate or a unfamiliar syntax, I let AI handle the first draft. It's a constant balance!
You're so right about the AI manager shift. I think critical thinking is becoming the 1 skill knowing when to trust the AI's output and when to question it. Clear communication is a close second.
For prompts, I don't really use formal resources. I just try to be specific and talk to it like a junior dev partner: Here's my goal, here's the error I'm seeing, what's wrong? Giving it context is everything.
Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts! Curious, what's your own approach been like?
Totally feel you on the AI changes. It’s like having a personal assistant 24/7, but yeah, the copy paste trap is real. I’ve been focusing on architecture and making sure I really understand the code AI suggests. It’s all about using AI to boost creativity and efficiency without letting it do everything. Still, it’s wild how much faster we’re learning new stuff now
Hey, you've perfectly captured the modern developer's dilemma! That personal assistant analogy is spot on. I'm right there with you focusing on deep architectural understanding is what separates great developers in this new era. It's the ultimate way to leverage AI for speed without sacrificing skill.
And absolutely, the learning acceleration is incredible. It feels less like a shortcut and more like having an expert mentor available 24/7. Really appreciate you sharing this perspective it's cool to connect with someone who's navigating this balance so thoughtfully
AI’s like having a genius intern
exactly and a friend
This really resonates — that shift from “using AI” to collaborating with it is exactly what happened to me.
It’s no longer a tool but a partner — one that helps design, reason, and even self-verify its own output.
I’ve learned that the real magic isn’t in automation, it’s in resonance: when human intent and AI logic align.
That’s when coding stops being work and starts feeling like discovery again.
This is beautifully put. That idea of resonance over automation is exactly the right way to frame it. It's not about replacing the coder, but about creating this amazing feedback loop between human intuition and machine scale. When it clicks, it really does make coding feel like exploration again. Thanks for putting words to this feeling
Really interesting take on how AI is reshaping industries. What’s fascinating is that it’s not just transforming tech-heavy fields but also everyday workflows. From content creation to simple automation in the tools we use daily. I think the key moving forward will be learning how to balance AI assistance with human creativity and ethics.
Absolutely. You've hit the nail on the head. The true transformation is happening when it becomes seamlessly integrated into our daily tools, not just the groundbreaking projects. Finding that balance between efficiency and human touch/ethics is indeed the defining challenge and opportunity for every industry going forward.😍🙏🏻
AI already impacting a lot. For DevOps , AI is reshaping not replacing. What do you say?
I really think that in the future, those who have worked with it and have the skills will get jobs, and science will no longer be so important, and only working with AI will be the criterion.what do you think?
Yup!
That’s an interesting point, Yalda. I agree that AI skills will definitely become a major factor in future job opportunities. But I also think having strong fundamentals in science, logic, and problem-solving will still matter — because those are what help us understand and guide AI effectively, not just use it. The real value might come from people who can combine both — technical depth and AI fluency.
you're right I also meant that we don't need to know all the basics, we need to have a complete and comprehensive understanding, and AI should be our assistant
I've been working in this wonderful time within our careers with AI and no, you still have to read code and no, AI also gets things wrong. I had many times where I had to tell it: this piece of code is wrong, do it like this. This requires experience.
Precisely. You've nailed the fundamental truth of this era. AI lowers the barrier to entry, but it raises the ceiling only for those who already have the knowledge to leverage it correctly. Without the core understanding to correct its course, finishing a project is impossible. The human is still the pilot.👏🏻
Love this perspective! I’ve seen the same shift happening outside coding too — in digital marketing and SEO, the real power now lies in knowing how to guide AI, not just use it. Prompting really is the new super-skill.
Exactly! It's fascinating to see this "collaborative" shift happening across so many fields. You're totally right in marketing and SEO, the value has completely shifted from just executing tasks to strategically guiding the AI with deep domain knowledge. It's not about who can use the tool, but who can ask the right questions and steer the output. Prompting has definitely become the new super-skill!