Using AI Coding Assistants as Your Junior Developer

"AI is the new electricity." - Andrew Ng

You have your product vision and technical specs (from Chapter 5). Now, let's turn ideas into code with AI coding assistants. You don't need to write it all yourself!

Think of AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Cursor, or Bolt as your junior developers. They can help non-technical founders to:

• ✅ Generate code for your chosen tech stack.
• ✅ Debug errors and optimize app performance.
• ✅ Add integrations (payments, analytics, etc.).
• ✅ Iterate on your product through various development phases.

Let's explore how to effectively use these AI coding assistants.

Generate Code with AI: Your AI Junior Developer 🚀

"Vibe coding with AI isn't just about writing code—it's about having a conversation with your tools, exploring possibilities, and letting creativity flow naturally." - Andrej Karpathy (adapted)

With your product and technical specifications ready, the first step is to generate the initial codebase. AI coding assistants can do this efficiently with the right prompts.

Prompting AI Coding Assistants for App Code Generation

⚙️ Prompt Structure for Initial App Code:

As an expert [Framework] and [Backend] developer, build a [describe your app] that [core functionality]. Use the following product and technical specifications:

📎 Attach your Product & Technical Specifications (from Chapter 5).

After the AI generates the code:

• Test the initial application setup.
• Request adjustments if the output isn't perfect.
• Iterate on specific features step-by-step.

AI-Powered Debugging: Fix Code with AI Assistants 🔍

AI coding assistants are powerful tools for real-time debugging, especially if you're new to development or working with unfamiliar code.

Effective Prompts for AI Code Debugging

Avoid vague questions. Provide context, share relevant code snippets, and clearly explain the problem you're encountering.

🚀 Example 1: Fixing Firebase Authentication

❌ Ineffective Prompt: "My Firebase login isn't working. Help!"

✅ Effective Prompt:

"I'm using Firebase authentication with Next.js. The sign-in function (pasted below) successfully authenticates the user but doesn't redirect to the dashboard page after login. Console shows no errors. What could be causing this, and how can I fix it? Code: [Paste relevant code snippet]"

🚀 Example 2: Optimizing API Performance

❌ Ineffective Prompt: "My API is slow. How to make it faster?"

✅ Effective Prompt:

"I'm fetching user data from Supabase in my Next.js app using the following query: [Paste query]. The API response time is over 2 seconds for about 100 records. How can I optimize this query or my data fetching strategy for better performance?"

👉 Key for AI Debugging: Provide specific code, describe the expected vs. actual behavior, and mention your tech stack.

AI for Integrations: Analytics, Payments & More 🧩

When adding features like Google Analytics, Stripe payments, Firebase Authentication, or RevenueCat subscriptions, AI coding assistants can provide step-by-step guidance tailored to your app's tech stack.

Using AI to Integrate Services like Stripe & Google Analytics

1. ✅ Step 1: Research with AI: Ask your AI assistant for the latest official integration guide. Example: "What's the official guide to add Stripe payments to a Next.js and Firebase app?"
2. ✅ Step 2: Implementation Plan: Ask the AI to outline the implementation steps for your specific tech stack. Example: "Outline the steps to integrate Stripe into my Expo mobile app using Node.js for the backend."
3. ✅ Step 3: Code Generation & Adjustment: Use an AI tool like Cursor or Copilot to generate the necessary code snippets or adjust existing code based on the integration steps.

💡 Example AI Prompt for Google Analytics Integration:

"Generate the product and technical requirements to add Google Analytics 4 to my web app. The frontend is built with React.js (v18.3.1) and Vite (v5.4.2). The app is a [brief app description]. Provide code examples for initialization and tracking page views."

AI will typically respond with:

• Required code snippets (e.g., for index.html or your main App component).
• Setup instructions (e.g., installing GA packages).
• Configuration details.

💥 Pro Tip: This method works well for integrating Stripe, Paddle, Firebase, Supabase, RevenueCat, Amplitude, and many other third-party services.

AI-Assisted Agile: Phased App Development with AI Tools ⚙️

Building an entire application in one go can be overwhelming. Instead, break down your app development into manageable phases. AI coding assistants can help you tackle each phase systematically.

Structuring Your AI App Development in Phases

Phase	Key Features & Goals	Purpose & AI Application
Phase 1: Core MVP	Implement the absolute core functionality.	AI generates foundational code (e.g., image sharing, AI resume builder). Focus on one key feature.
Phase 2: UI/UX & Supporting Screens	Develop additional screens (Profile, Settings, etc.) and refine user experience.	AI assists in creating UI components and navigation.
Phase 3: Authentication & Access	Integrate user login/signup (e.g., Firebase Auth, Supabase Auth).	AI helps implement secure authentication flows.
Phase 4: Monetization	Add payment gateways (Stripe, RevenueCat) if applicable.	AI guides through payment integration steps. Validate product before this.
Phase 5: Performance & Optimization	Optimize API calls, database queries, UI responsiveness, and implement caching.	AI helps identify bottlenecks and suggests optimization techniques.
Phase 6: Advanced Features & Integrations	Add analytics, advanced AI features, third-party services.	AI assists in complex integrations and feature enhancements.

💡 Benefits of Phased Development with AI:

• ✅ Reduces Scope Creep: Focus on one set of features at a time.
• ✅ Early Testing & Feedback: Test core functionality with users sooner.
• ✅ Iterative Improvement: Easier to pivot or make changes based on feedback.
• ✅ User-Focused Growth: Scale features based on validated user needs.

GitHub Version Control for Your AI-Generated Code 📦

Once your AI coding assistant helps generate code, using GitHub for version control is crucial for managing your project, tracking changes, and collaborating (even if it's just you and the AI).

How to Use GitHub with AI Coding Projects

1. Initialize Git in Your Project Folder:

   git init

2. Connect to Your GitHub Repository: Create a new repository on GitHub.com, then link it:

   git remote add origin https://github.com/your-username/your-repository.git

3. Stage and Commit Your Code: Commit the initial AI-generated codebase or subsequent changes.

   git add .
   git commit -m "feat: Initial AI-generated codebase for [feature]"

   (Using Conventional Commits like feat:, fix:, docs: is good practice)
4. Push Code to GitHub:

   git branch -M main  # Ensure your main branch is called 'main'
   git push -u origin main

5. Continuous Integration/Deployment (Optional but Recommended): Set up GitHub Actions for automated testing and deployment to platforms like Vercel or Netlify. AI can help generate basic CI/CD workflow files.

💡 Why GitHub is Essential for AI-Driven Development:

• ✅ Change Tracking: Logs every modification, whether by you or refined from AI output.
• ✅ Collaboration: Facilitates teamwork if you bring in other developers or AI agents with write access.
• ✅ Deployment Backbone: Critical for deploying your app.
• ✅ Rollback Capability: Allows you to revert to previous versions if an AI suggestion or manual change breaks something.

Ship Faster: AI Coding Assistants and Phased Development 🚀

• 🔹 MVP First: Completing Phase 1 gives you a Minimum Viable Product to test with real users quickly.
• 🔹 Focused Enhancements: Each subsequent phase adds specific improvements, preventing premature complexity and bloat.
• 🔹 Adaptability: Early user feedback allows you to pivot or refine your product strategy with AI assistance for new features.

Example AI Coding Workflow for Non-Technical Founders:

Task for AI Assistant	Example Prompt Snippet	Expected Outcome from AI
Generate Core App (e.g., Resume Builder)	"Imagine you're an expert Next.js & Firebase developer. Generate a resume builder app with these specs..."	Initial full app codebase.
Debug Firebase Auth Issue	"My Firebase sign-in function isn't redirecting after successful login. Here's the relevant code..."	Corrected code snippet and explanation of the fix.
Integrate Stripe Subscriptions	"Outline the steps and provide code examples to add Stripe subscriptions to my Next.js app using these product requirements..."	Setup guide, API endpoint examples, frontend integration code.
Set up GitHub Repository	"Provide the bash commands to initialize a Git repository, connect it to GitHub, and push my initial code."	Sequence of Git commands and brief explanations.