How to Solve Common Coding Problems with AI in Under 30 Minutes

As indie hackers and solo founders, we often wear many hats, and coding can be one of the most time-consuming tasks. You might find yourself stuck on a bug or trying to implement a feature when you really just want to ship your product. The good news? AI coding tools have come a long way and can help you solve common coding problems in under 30 minutes. In this guide, I’ll share practical tools that can help you get unstuck and keep your projects moving forward.

Prerequisites: What You Need to Get Started

Before diving in, make sure you have:

• Basic coding knowledge (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, etc.)
• A code editor set up (like VS Code or Sublime Text)
• An internet connection to access AI tools

1. AI Code Assistants: Your First Line of Defense

AI code assistants can help you generate code snippets, debug, and even refactor your code. Here are some of the best options:

| Tool | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |--------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | GitHub Copilot | $10/mo, free for students | Code suggestions | Limited to supported languages; may generate incorrect code | We use this for quick suggestions and autocomplete. | | Tabnine | Free tier + $12/mo Pro | Autocompletion | Less effective for complex logic; fewer language supports | We don't use this because it lacks depth compared to Copilot. | | Codeium | Free, $19/mo for premium | Real-time collaboration | May not cover niche languages | We tried this for team projects; it's decent. | | Replit Ghostwriter | $20/mo | Collaborative coding | Limited to Replit's environment | We like using this when we’re pair programming. |

2. Debugging Made Easy: AI Debuggers

Debugging can be a nightmare, but AI tools are stepping in to simplify the process. Here’s a look at some top debugging tools:

| Tool | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |--------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Sentry | Free tier + $29/mo for Pro | Error tracking | Can become expensive as you scale | We use this for monitoring post-launch issues. | | DeepCode | Free, $19/mo for premium | Static code analysis | Not all languages supported | We don't find it reliable for real-time debugging. | | Bugfender | $29/mo | Remote logging | Limited to mobile apps | We use this for our mobile projects. |

3. Code Quality and Refactoring Tools

Maintaining code quality is essential, and AI tools can assist with refactoring. Here are some options:

| Tool | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |--------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | SonarQube | Free, $150/mo for Enterprise | Code quality checks | Can be overwhelming for beginners | We use this for ongoing quality checks. | | Codacy | Free tier + $15/mo for Pro | Automated reviews | Limited customization options | We don’t use it because of its rigidity. | | CodeClimate | Free tier + $16/mo for Pro | Continuous integration | Can be slow with large codebases | We use this for CI/CD pipelines. |

4. Workflow Automation with AI

Automating repetitive tasks can save you tons of time. Here are some AI tools that help streamline your workflow:

| Tool | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |--------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Zapier | Free tier + $19/mo for Pro | Task automation | Limited integrations on the free tier | We rely on this for connecting different tools. | | Integromat | Free tier + $9/mo for Pro | Complex workflows | Steeper learning curve | We don’t use it as we find Zapier simpler. | | Automate.io | Free tier + $19/mo for Pro | Simple automations | Less powerful than Zapier | We use this for quick integration tasks. |

5. What We Actually Use

In our experience, we’ve found that a combination of GitHub Copilot for coding, Sentry for debugging, and Zapier for automation covers most of our needs. While there are many tools out there, sticking to a few reliable ones helps us stay focused and efficient.

Conclusion: Start Here to Solve Your Coding Problems

If you’re facing coding problems, start by trying out GitHub Copilot for code suggestions and Sentry for debugging. Both tools can help you become more productive in under 30 minutes, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: shipping your product. Remember, the right tools can make all the difference, so don’t hesitate to experiment and find what works best for you.