AI as a coding practice tool
Using AI pair programming as a tool for deliberate practice in an AI-aided programming environment.
Changing habits under constraints on communication
Unlike a human pair programmer, AI still cannot communicate smoothly with me through means other than code. This makes it even more important to express my intentions as fully as possible in the code when pairing with AI. Using GitHub Copilot and Cursor regularly has changed my coding habits.
Many of these changes relate to New practices for AI-aided programming. Looking only at the resulting code, there is little difference, but the process of coding differs noticeably. (See Values in the process.)
Deliberate practice
AI’s effect on immediate productivity matters, but its long-term effect on programmers’ habits and abilities may matter even more.
AI seems helpful for coding practice in several ways: compared with a human partner, it provides tighter and faster feedback loops, is always beside me when I code, and stays focused without tiring.
I would like to think further about how to use AI better in this direction.