How to Automate Repetitive Coding Tasks in 60 Minutes using AI Tools

As a solo founder or indie hacker, you probably spend way too much time on repetitive coding tasks. Whether it’s writing boilerplate code, debugging, or managing version control, these tasks can eat up your productivity. But what if I told you that in just 60 minutes, you could set up an automation system using AI tools that would save you hours of work every week? Let’s dive in.

Prerequisites

Before we get started, here’s what you’ll need:

• Basic understanding of programming (Python, JavaScript, etc.)
• Access to a code editor (VS Code is a solid choice)
• Accounts for the AI tools we’ll be using
• About 60 minutes of focused time

Step 1: Identify Your Repetitive Tasks

First, you need to pinpoint which tasks are eating up your time. Here are some common candidates:

• Code formatting
• Code reviews
• Generating documentation
• Writing tests

Take a moment to list the tasks you find yourself doing repeatedly.

Step 2: Choose Your AI Tools

Here’s a list of AI tools that can help you automate these tasks. I’ve included what each tool does, pricing, and our take based on real experiences.

| Tool Name | Pricing | What It Does | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |-------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| | GitHub Copilot | $10/mo or $100/yr | AI-powered code completion | Quick code suggestions | Limited languages supported | We use this for quick function writing | | Tabnine | Free tier + $12/mo pro | AI code completion with team training | Team collaboration | Can be less effective for niche languages | We use this for team projects | | Codeium | Free | AI code suggestions and completions | General coding tasks | Still in beta, some bugs | We don't use this yet, but testing it | | Sourcery | Free tier + $12/mo pro | Automated code reviews and suggestions | Code quality improvement | Limited to Python | We use this for Python projects | | Replit | Free + $20/mo for pro features | Collaborative coding platform with AI assistance | Team coding sessions | Performance issues on larger projects | We don’t use this due to performance | | Ponic | $5/mo | Generates documentation based on code | Documenting APIs | Limited to certain languages | We use this for API documentation | | DeepCode | Free tier + $19/mo for pro | AI-powered code review and security analysis | Security auditing | Limited languages supported | We use this for security checks | | Kite | Free + $19.99/mo for pro | Code completions and documentation lookup | Python developers | Slower for larger codebases | We use this for Python projects | | Codex | $0.10 per 1,000 tokens | Natural language to code generation | Generating code from specs | Cost can add up, not always accurate | We use this for quick prototypes | | AI21 Studio | $0.06 per 1,000 tokens | Natural language processing to assist coding | Writing code from descriptions| Limited to specific tasks | We’re testing this for complex queries |

Step 3: Set Up Your Automation Workflows

Now that you have your tools, let’s set up some workflows. Here’s a simple automation process you can implement in about 60 minutes:

1. Install GitHub Copilot in your code editor.
2. Integrate Sourcery for code reviews.
3. Use Ponic to auto-generate documentation as you code.
4. Set up DeepCode to run security checks automatically on each commit.
5. Utilize Codex for generating boilerplate code from natural language descriptions.

Step 4: Testing Your Setup

After setting everything up, spend some time testing your automation. Write a few lines of code and see how well the AI tools assist you. Check if Sourcery catches any issues and if Ponic generates documentation correctly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Tool Lag: If your AI tool is slow, try restarting your code editor or checking your internet connection.
• Inaccurate Suggestions: If a tool suggests irrelevant code, you may need to fine-tune its settings or provide more context in your comments.

What’s Next?

Once you've automated your repetitive tasks, consider expanding your setup to include:

• Continuous Integration (CI) tools for automated testing.
• Task automation tools like Zapier or Integromat for non-coding tasks.
• Explore more advanced AI tools as they become available.

Conclusion

Automating repetitive coding tasks can significantly boost your productivity, allowing you to focus on building rather than maintaining. Start by identifying your repetitive tasks, choose the right tools from our list, and set up your workflows. In just an hour, you can lay the groundwork for a more efficient coding environment.

What We Actually Use

In our stack, we primarily use GitHub Copilot and Sourcery for code suggestions and reviews, respectively. They fit seamlessly into our workflow and save us considerable time. For documentation, we rely on Ponic, which has proven to be a reliable choice.