I want to share some of my thoughts on programming with AI.
Honestly, I have no problem with using AI for coding. In fact, I think it's extremely effective, so long as you use it properly. But what does "properly" mean?
For context, I've been dealing with this for a while, and I wanted to open up here in case anyone else is struggling with the same thing. I had a bad habit of constantly trying to prove to myself that I'm a capable developer; that I can solve problems without any AI assistance.
I was so focused on proving my own intellectual toughness that I didn't realize I could've made far more progress if I had simply used AI as a tool.
When I adopted this mindset—trying to solve general problems over and over, struggling and failing repeatedly—I realized I was actually progressing slower than if I had just used AI properly to guide me.
So, how do you use AI properly without letting it hinder your growth? Here's what I found works:
1. Try on your own first.
Give yourself 15–30 minutes to tackle the problem independently. Think of this as warming up your brain.
2. Bring in AI as a thinking partner.
If you get stuck, don't panic. Explain to AI what you've already tried, what worked, what didn't, and ask for guidance. Use it to help you talk through the problem, not just to hand you the answer.
3. Internalize and repeat.
Once you solve your problem, take note of the patterns you discovered with AI's help. From there, it's a matter of rinse and repeat. Over time, you'll start recognizing solutions faster, and eventually, you'll know what to do next time.
Using AI this way gives you the best of both worlds: you get the satisfaction and learning that comes from solving problems, plus a tool that helps you work smarter. It's like compounding knowledge—you start slow, but eventually, the growth becomes exponential.
If you've made it this far, I'd just like to say thank you for taking the time to read this article! I figured I'd try out a new posting style on X :)