I've been using AI whenever I hit a snag or error in my coding, but I can't shake off this guilt. It feels like I'm not really coding if I'm just leaning on AI for help. How do you all tackle issues like runtime errors and bugs that are tricky to diagnose? When is it okay to use AI for assistance, and where do you find solutions without it? Thanks for any advice!
3 Answers
Using AI isn't inherently bad—especially if you're learning. If you remember past mistakes and develop a better understanding over time, you can successfully use AI as a tool. Just aim to understand the problem while you work through it rather than just copying code.
When you encounter an error, start by analyzing the stack trace; it can help you identify where the issue lies. Reading through documentation related to the error or searching for the specific message can also be beneficial. If you find yourself getting too dependent on AI, it's a sign you might need to strengthen your underlying coding skills.
It really depends on whether you’re in a learning phase. If you’re trying to improve, it’s okay to use AI as a reference, but remember that understanding the concepts is key to making progress. Even before AI, programmers would Google their issues. The goal is to understand the problem and know why your solution works.

Absolutely! The more you absorb, the better your intuition gets for solving similar problems in the future.