I've been using AI coding assistants for about a year now, and I've developed some opinions about how to use them well.
The temptation is to let the AI write everything. It's fast, it's impressive, and it feels productive. But I've noticed that when I lean on it too heavily, my own problem-solving muscles start to atrophy.
My Rules for AI-Assisted Coding
1. Understand before you accept. I never paste AI-generated code without reading every line. If I can't explain why it works, I don't use it.
2. Use it for boilerplate, not logic. AI is great for scaffolding, test setup, and repetitive patterns. For core business logic, I prefer to think it through myself.
3. Treat suggestions as a starting point. AI-generated code is usually 80% right. That last 20% is where the real work happens.
The Bigger Picture
These tools aren't going away, and developers who refuse to use them will fall behind. But developers who can't work without them will too. The goal is fluency in both modes.