I'm currently working on a React project with another developer who's making rapid progress, but I'm noticing that the files they're writing are quite large and have some structural issues, like poor component separation and too many useState hooks. I'm starting to suspect they might be using AI to generate a lot of their code. Are there any tools available that can help me scan the codebase to identify which files might have been AI-generated? I'm also considering whether I should enforce certain coding standards or even ask them to stop using AI altogether. Would love to hear your thoughts on this!
2 Answers
I don’t see why banning AI is necessary unless you have specific concerns, like security. Focusing on coding standards is more important. If they’re using AI effectively, they should still take the time to review and clean up the code afterwards. Just remind them to not copy and paste massive chunks verbatim; that's where problems can arise.
One approach is to do some pair programming with them. It’ll allow you to see their coding process firsthand. Also, make sure you enforce coding standards regardless of whether they're using AI or not. If their AI-generated code meets those standards, then it shouldn't be an issue, right? AI is just another tool, similar to autocomplete.
Totally agree! AI can be super useful, but it should be a supplement, not a crutch. If they're asking AI, 'write me a function that does blah' and just copying it directly, that’s a red flag. It should augment their coding skills, not replace them.