How Can I Improve My Skills Using AI in Coding?

I used to feel like AI was helping me be super productive, but once I got into debugging all the code it produced, it became a nightmare. I found AI tends to complicate things and lacks common sense. Now, I use it mainly to enhance my understanding of the tasks at hand, more than to rely on it for complete solutions.

If you're still in the early stages of your coding journey, relying too much on AI could actually hold you back. It's important to build a strong foundation in problem solving and system design. Sure, you can set up AI tools pretty easily, but the more you lean on them, the less you'll learn for yourself. Many people generating tons of code with AI don't actually know what they're doing and struggle to maintain it. Just keep in mind, AI is a predictor, not a final answer—it doesn’t guarantee correct outcomes!

Honestly, it sounds like you're using AI the right way! Some folks just don't realize that it can generate some pretty bad code. It can be a learning tool, but like any tool, it's not perfect.

If you're curious about other AI tools, I’ve been using Claude Code with VSCode and it works well for me! Just make sure to explain your requirements clearly, especially if you've got a complex setup like using Docker. By utilizing its 'Plan Mode,' I can ensure it understands the full context of my code, which helps a lot!

As someone with four years of experience, I can say I don't really rely on AI beyond using it like an advanced search tool. It’s fine for simple tasks, but I prefer not to depend on it for coding.