How to turn ChatGPT into your AI coding power tool - and double...
I've been experimenting with using ChatGPT to help turbocharge my programming output for over two years. When ChatGPT helped me find a troubling bug, I realized there was something worthwhile in artificial intelligence. Many people I talk to think that AI is a magic genie that can manifest an entire program or app out of a single, barely-formed wish. Here's a much better analogy: AI is a power tool.
The impact of ChatGPT
Sure, you can use an old-fashioned saw to cut wood, but a table saw goes much faster. Neither tool makes furniture. They simply help you make furniture. Keep in mind that the AI isn't going to write your code for you. It's going to help you write your code. Although there's no objective way for me to tell you exactly how much ChatGPT has helped me, I am fairly convinced it has doubled my programming output. In other words, I've gotten twice as much done by using ChatGPT as part of my toolkit.
Choosing the right version
I've mostly been using ChatGPT Plus rather than the free version of ChatGPT. Initially, it was because the GPT-4 model in Plus was better at coding than the GPT-3.5 model in the free version. However, now that both versions support some variant of the GPT-4o model, their coding capabilities are identical. Remember that you only get so many queries with the free version before you're asked to wait a while, and I find that interrupts my programming flow. So, I use the $20/month Plus version.
Maximizing ChatGPT's potential
I should note that I've tested many large language models (LLMs) against my real-world coding and found that only a few (and all based on ChatGPT's LLMs) could handle everything I've thrown at it. So although there are a lot of cool AI tools for programmers being made available (some even for free), they're not going to be all that helpful unless the code the AI produces actually works. The good news is that AIs will inevitably get better at coding over time, so this should cease to be much of an issue.
Tips for maximizing AI programming
The AI doesn't handle complex sets of instructions well, especially if you expect it to do product design. However, the AI is extremely good at parsing and processing small, well-defined instructions. Start with a simple assignment and, when that's been properly written, add more to it, element by element. Don't ever assume the code will work. Patch the code into your project and see how it performs. For a more in-depth test, don't hesitate to drop into the debugger and walk through the code generated by the AI step-by-step. Watch the variables and exactly what the AI does. Remember, it's OK to let it write code snippets for you as long as you check every statement and line for proper functioning.
Utilizing AI for coding tasks
The biggest benefit of AI is writing blocks of code that use common knowledge, popular libraries, and regular practices. Even if you need something that might only generate a line or two of a response, use the AI as you would use any research tool if it can save you time. The AI often spits out incomplete or non-functional code. Tell it what isn't working, and perhaps suggest to clarify. It's interesting to see how two language models interpret the same code. CSS selectors, regular expressions, and complex loop math can be handled effectively by AI.
Enhancing code generation with AI
The AI picks up intent from variable and function names and writes better code. The AI usually generates notes about each prompt before and after the code it writes. Grab the various pieces of code from your project to illustrate what you need, tell ChatGPT to read them, and then ask what you want. Have you considered checking with your company about the legal issues of code generated?
The AI can be a powerful ally in coding tasks, helping you save time and enhance your productivity. By following these tips and leveraging ChatGPT effectively, you can transform it into a valuable AI coding power tool in your development workflow.
