How to Code Using AI

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. Various entities such as businesses, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, social welfare groups, and individuals are now utilizing these tools for a variety of tasks.

The purpose of these tools is to search for information, generate written content, produce images, conduct mathematical computations, and write code. One field where the usefulness of AI models is readily apparent is programming. With the assistance of AI tools, one can create code snippets or even entire functions. Let’s explore how this is possible.

Potential Benefits of AI-Generated Code

The emergence of code generation tools has made it possible to utilize AI in coding. However, it is crucial to recognize that these tools are most effective in aiding programmers rather than replacing the role of writing complete code.

This indicates that you should not solely depend on AI tools for code generation, but you can utilize them for the following tasks.

• Enhancing Coding Efficiency: Code editors powered by AI use machine-learning algorithms to analyze code patterns, allowing them to predict and suggest code snippets. These tools can also assist in familiarizing oneself with optimal coding practices, further improving the efficiency of the coding process.
• Automatically Generating Code: By utilizing prompts, developers can take advantage of AI tools to automatically generate snippets or entire code functions. This can greatly benefit developers by saving them time while writing code, particularly for mundane and repetitive tasks.
• Refactoring Code: Another way in which you can use AI tools for coding is to improve code that has already been written. Such tools can be used to analyze code and get suggestions that make it more readable and help it function better.
• Detecting Bugs and Applying Fixes: You can use AI tools to find bugs in your code so they can be fixed before the code is put into use. This can help make the development cycle more efficient and avoid wasting time on debugging later on.

Comparing AI-Generated Code and Low- And No-Code

Using AI to write code is comparable to generating code with low- and no-code methods, as all three facilitate writing code efficiently with less effort. Nevertheless, low- and no-code tools rely on prebuilt libraries and templates for different components to function.

These interfaces are made for individuals without coding experience or skills, offering intuitive drag-and-drop controls. They allow for the creation and modification of applications without the need to directly work with the code, which remains concealed.

Conversely, AI code-generation tools do not require the use of component libraries and templates. Rather, they utilize the prompts given by users in everyday language to propose code functions and snippets. While no- and low-code tools are specifically aimed towards businesses and individuals without programming experience, professional developers can also utilize AI code-generation tools.

Benefits of Coding with Artificial Intelligence

Using AI to code offers various benefits.

• Saves Time and Accelerates Development: By utilizing AI tools, you can streamline and automate repetitive coding tasks, freeing up time to concentrate on more important objectives. Additionally, it reduces the need for manual work on mundane tasks like creating menus and forms, resulting in a quicker development process and timely completion of projects.
• Helps Reduce Errors: AI can help you standardize procedures when writing code, which can reduce the chances of human error. For instance, small errors like typographical mistakes can often occur in routine tasks but can be avoided when using AI since they perform such tasks with great precision.
• Makes Coding Accessible To Non-Developers: Perhaps the biggest highlight of AI code-generators is that they allow non-programmers and regular users to develop programs easily. You can simply enter prompts into such tools, and they will generate the code needed for your program. So even someone with no coding skill or knowledge can write code with AI.

Top AI Tools for Coding

You can utilize various AI tools to create code snippets and complete functions, including the ones listed below:

Introducing GitHub Copilot

OpenAI has utilized publicly available code from Github repositories to develop Copilot, which enables rapid access to vast datasets. This groundbreaking program can serve as a virtual programmer, aiding in debugging, enhancing, and even generating complete code. Additionally, it possesses the ability to identify and suggest solutions for errors within the code. Copilot is compatible with popular development environments and offers extensions for Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code. It also provides helpful comments to facilitate comprehension of the code.

GPTChat

The most widely used AI chatbot, ChatGPT, was developed by OpenAI and has a wide range of applications, including information retrieval, content generation, and coding. In contrast to other AI code generation tools, ChatGPT has a more natural and human-like conversational style. The most recent version of ChatGPT utilizes GPT-4, enabling it to not only generate new code, but also provide explanations and significantly improve its performance when writing code in Python.

Additionally, it is crucial to recognize that, similar to code produced by other AI models, the output provided by ChatGPT will require manual review and editing.

Tabnine AI

Codota is the creator of Tabnine, a code generator that utilizes machine-learning to assist in code completion, error identification, and speeding up the code writing process. It offers personalized recommendations and has the ability to automatically index your code. This AI code generator also has additional features, such as integration with popular development environments, syntax highlighting, and the ability to generate automated tests.

One of the benefits of Tabnine is its open-source nature, allowing for integration with popular code editors such as Sublime Text, Atom, and VS Code. Recognizable companies like Google and Facebook also utilize Tabnine for code generation purposes.

CodeT5: Advanced Python Programming Techniques

CodeT5, an additional code generator created by OpenAI, is designed to produce code for particular projects. This open-source AI tool is available at no cost and is compatible with various programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, and Java. Additionally, you can use it either offline or online, depending on your needs.

CodeT5 stands out for its ability to generate a function summary in natural language, and its user-friendly graphical interface can seamlessly integrate with Github documentation.

Google Ads for Mobile Apps

Google Gemini (formerly known as Google Bard) is a viable alternative for those seeking an AI tool to aid in coding. This program can produce new code, provide explanations, and aid in debugging. It supports over 20 programming languages, such as Java, Python, and others.

Similar to ChatGPT, Google Gemini offers both a free and paid version that can be utilized for coding. Additionally, it is compatible with Android devices, giving it an edge over other code generators.

Cody Sourcegraph Integration

Cody is an extensive coding tool that utilizes Large Language Models (LLMs), Sourcegraph code expertise, and Sourcegraph search to locate, interpret, and generate code. It has the capability to understand entire codebases, respond to queries, and generate code. Cody is available for free for personal use when coding.

Cody has the ability to anticipate your input and offer code snippets as you type, identify and correct mistakes, conduct automated code reviews, and is compatible with all programming languages. Additionally, it boasts strong security measures, including AWS encryption.

These tools are designed to assist with writing code, rather than writing it on their own. Additionally, a new tool called AI Software Engineer Devin is in development and has the ability to independently generate code. However, it is not yet widely accessible, but you can find out more about it below.

Generating Code with ChatGPT

In the previous section, we highlighted several top AI tools for coding. However, for those interested in writing code with the assistance of AI, OpenAI’s ChatGP is a highly recommended choice. This powerful and user-friendly tool is available for free and is an excellent resource for coding tasks, even for those without prior experience.

• Launch your web browser and go to the ChatGPT website.
• If you already have an account on the website, sign in to it. Otherwise, create an account and then log in.
• Now, you need to decide what the purpose of your code will be. ChatGPT can write code to perform a specific function or perform routine tasks. For instance, you want the AI model to summarize the article on any web page. So, in the chat window, enter a prompt like write a code for summarizing the article on this page, https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/ai-and-catastrophic-risk/ and press the ‘Enter’ key.

• You can see that ChatGPT breaks down the code generation process into a series of steps while explaining what each step does. Scroll down, and you will see the Python code generated by the AI model.Make sure to focus on the parameters of the code and the output you want. The more information you provide to the model, the better the results will be.

Using ChatGPT to Explore Libraries and Resources

In the past, extracting data from web pages required finding and selecting text between various HTML tags. However, thanks to AI libraries, you can now efficiently extract and summarize the necessary data for coding. These libraries are code components designed for a specific purpose.

• In the ChatGPT chat window, input a prompt requesting the AI model to give you details on the necessary libraries for your code to carry out a particular task. For example, you could type in what libraries are necessary for a code that summarizes information from various web pages.

• When you press the ‘Enter’ key, ChatGPT will not only let you know about the libraries you need but also explain how you can install them.

• It is essential to find and choose the appropriate libraries for creating quality code, and AI can greatly assist in this process by saving a significant amount of time. Additionally, you have the option to personalize the responses even more. For instance, you can utilize ChatGPT to inquire about the free or non-licensed libraries mentioned, and the AI model will supply you with the necessary information.

• Similarly, you have the option to inquire about various coding libraries, their distinctions, and which one would be most suitable for your specific coding requirements. Simply enter a prompt such as which library would be optimal for generating summaries of news articles from web pages?

• To receive a response from ChatGPT, press the ‘Enter’ key on Windows or the ‘Return’ key on Mac.

• If you want, you can even ask ChatGPT how to use a library, if you’re unfamiliar with it. Type in explain how to use the transformers library and press the ‘Enter’ key.

• ChatGPT will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to use the library you mentioned.

Utilizing various prompts can assist in gathering the necessary information from tools such as ChatGPT before beginning the coding process. ChatGPT enables the integration of multiple systems and resources, an essential element in producing high-quality code.

Requesting AI-Generated Code

You can use ChatGPT to write code by either continuing in the current chat window or opening a new one.

• To use the chat window, simply input a prompt such as Create a concise function using the transformers library called summarize_article. This function should effectively summarize text articles while disregarding any embedded ads or other elements, and should consist of complete sentences. Keep the code brief and uncomplicated.

• Simply press either the ‘Return’ key or the ‘Enter’ key, and ChatGPT will generate the desired code for you.

• Once the basic code is written, you can manually edit and refine it as needed easily, since ChatGPT has already done all the heavy lifting.

Challenges of Using AI for Writing Code

Although AI can aid in writing code with ease and speed, it is important to be aware of potential limitations and issues that may arise.

• Regrettably, identifying errors in code generated by AI can be challenging, particularly for individuals who are not experienced in using such tools or have limited coding expertise. This is why it is crucial to thoroughly review any code created by AI before incorporating it into your work.
• You May Be Tempted To Use Unnecessary Code: Since AI can generate code much faster than a human being, you may be tempted to use code without having proper knowledge about it. It is important to first understand the code before using it so you can edit it and refine it as needed for long-term maintenance.
• Potential Security Risks: While using AI tools for coding significantly improves speed and efficiency, it can also pose security risks. These tools may not prioritize important security measures, leaving the code vulnerable to potential attacks. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully review and adjust your prompts in order to ensure the security of your code.
• Potential Plagiarism Concerns with Generated Code: Since AI tools are typically trained on existing code written by humans, the code they generate may bear striking similarities to preexisting snippets and blocks. If you incorporate this code into your own program, you could face legal consequences for plagiarism. To avoid this issue, it is recommended to thoroughly check your code against multiple online repositories to confirm its originality.

Tips for Optimizing AI Code Generation

To ensure proper coding when using AI, it is recommended to follow these best practices.

• Supply Context to the AI: In order to receive valuable information from an AI tool, it is necessary to provide it with context about the project. The AI model must be informed of the code’s purpose and the desired output. This can be achieved by including import statements, defining essential functions and variables, and adding comments. By doing so, the AI can adapt its suggestions to fit the project accurately.
• While AI tools can provide suggestions, they may not always be tailored to your specific needs. Therefore, it is important to carefully review and edit them rather than blindly accepting them.
• Focus on the Intent: Instead of obsessing over minor details, you should focus on the intent. Evaluate and approve code that matches your intent, even if the details are not what you want. So, instead of getting stuck on small refinements, try to move your logic forward.
• Maximize the Benefits of Code Reviews: While AI code generation tools can assist in writing code, it is crucial to manually review the output for optimal results. Enlisting a colleague to inspect the AI-generated code for any potential issues, bugs, or other problems can lead to further improvements and perfection.
• Provide Some Learning Time: One similarity between AI tools and humans is that both need time to learn and adapt. For writing good code, it is important that you provide your AI assistant with some time for learning, so it can understand your purpose and methodology. As it learns, it will get better and provide more useful results.

The growing power of AI tools is evident as they continue to advance each day. In the past, these tools were limited to completing partially written code, but now they can even generate original code with tools like ChatGPT, which only requires minor adjustments and improvements from the user.

When utilizing AI for coding, it is important to provide it with comprehensive information and outline each step. Clearly communicate your desired output and the AI will handle the rest. While there may be some trial and error at first, once you become proficient in coding with AI, the time and energy saved will be well worth it.