The AI Developer's Toolkit
AI coding tools are revolutionizing how developers work. Instead of writing everything from scratch, these tools can:
Generate code from descriptions
Complete code as you type
Debug problems and explain errors
Explain code and concepts
Refactor existing code to improve it
Suggest ideas for new features
For beginners: These tools are like having an experienced developer by your side! They can help you learn faster by showing you how to solve problems and explaining concepts as you go.
Cursor IDE
Cursor IDE
Built from the ground up for AI coding
What it does: Cursor is an IDE specifically designed around AI assistance. It's built on VS Code but adds powerful AI features for generating, editing, and understanding code across multiple files.
Key Features:
- Chat interface - Talk to AI about your code directly in the editor
- Multi-file understanding - AI can see and analyze your entire project
- Code commands - "Edit this function to...", "Create a component that..."
- GPT-4 integration - Access to more powerful models
- Built on VS Code - Familiar interface with extensions support
See Cursor in Action
You ask Cursor:
"Create a React component that shows a list of todos with the ability to add, complete, and delete items"Cursor generates an entire component:
import React, { useState } from 'react';
function TodoList() {
const [todos, setTodos] = useState([]);
const [newTodo, setNewTodo] = useState('');
const addTodo = () => {
if (newTodo.trim() === '') return;
setTodos([...todos, { id: Date.now(), text: newTodo, completed: false }]);
setNewTodo('');
};
const toggleTodo = (id) => {
setTodos(
todos.map(todo =>
todo.id === id ? { ...todo, completed: !todo.completed } : todo
)
);
};
const deleteTodo = (id) => {
setTodos(todos.filter(todo => todo.id !== id));
};
return (
Todo List
setNewTodo(e.target.value)}
placeholder="Add a new task..."
onKeyPress={(e) => e.key === 'Enter' && addTodo()}
/>
{todos.map(todo => (
-
toggleTodo(todo.id)}
/>
{todo.text}
))}
);
}
export default TodoList;ChatGPT & Claude
ChatGPT
By OpenAI
Claude
By Anthropic
What they do: These conversational AI assistants can help with coding through chat interfaces. They're great for explaining concepts, generating code snippets, debugging issues, and brainstorming approaches.
When to use each tool
Editor Tools (Cursor)
- Writing code in real-time
- Quick completions
- Working within your codebase
- Feature implementation
Best for: Active coding sessions
VS
Chat Tools (ChatGPT/Claude)
- Planning architecture
- Learning concepts
- Debugging complex issues
- Multi-step discussions
Best for: Problem-solving & learning
Key Takeaways
- AI coding tools can dramatically speed up development and help you learn
- Cursor IDE offers deep integration with AI for complex interactions
- ChatGPT and Claude are best for planning, learning, and problem-solving
- Use these tools together for the most productive workflow