AI Coding Assistants: Personal Observations on Programming Evolution
By
dnw
Toasted golden, schmeared with insight. Top of the rack.
Summary
The article is a personal reflection on the evolution of programming with AI coding assistants, based on the author's 1.5 years of experience using tools like Copilot, Cody, Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini. It discusses how AI has transformed software development workflows, making coding more accessible and efficient. The author shares practical observations about using AI as a pair-programming partner and how these tools have enabled them to write more code for various purposes. The piece emphasizes the paradigm shift in programming practices brought about by AI assistance.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledIf you are a software engineer, regardless of level, pick a model and shape it into your best pair-programming buddy.
I have been using Copilot, Cody, and Cursor for about a year and a half. I also started using Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini shortly after their release earlier this year.
This sentiment generalizes beyond software engineering.
Using these tools, I've written code and debugged problems with teams, and I'm writing more code for myself, friends, and family.
You might also wanna read

AI's Impact on Software Engineering: Evolution or Replacement?
The article explores the complex relationship between AI tools like ChatGPT and software engineering, examining whether AI represents the en

The Intensifying Competition in AI-Powered Coding Tools and Software Development
The article discusses the intensifying competition in AI-powered coding tools, focusing on how major tech companies like OpenAI, Google, and

Practical Guide to Using AI Coding Tools for Responsible Development
The article provides practical guidance for developers on responsibly integrating AI coding tools into their workflow. Based on two years of

The Rise of AI in Coding: Revolutionizing Development Processes
The article discusses the use of AI in coding, highlighting the shift towards AI-generated code and the efficiency it brings to the developm
Building a Software Factory with Claude Code: From AI-Assisted Coding to Agentic Development
This article provides a comprehensive guide on building a software factory using Claude Code and other AI coding tools. It covers the evolut
How I Used Coding Agents to Automate My AI Research Work in Copilot Applied Science
An AI researcher shares their experience using coding agents to automate intellectual work, specifically building agents that automate parts
