How to Write Code 2x Faster Using AI in 60 Minutes

As indie hackers and solo founders, we often find ourselves juggling multiple tasks while trying to ship products quickly. One of the biggest bottlenecks? Writing code. What if I told you that you could potentially double your coding speed using AI tools? In this guide, we’ll break down how you can leverage AI coding tools to speed up your development process in just 60 minutes.

Prerequisites: What You Need to Get Started

Before diving in, make sure you have the following:

• A computer with internet access
• Basic understanding of coding (JavaScript, Python, etc.)
• An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) installed, such as Visual Studio Code or JetBrains

Step 1: Choose the Right AI Coding Tools

Not all AI coding tools are created equal. Here’s a list of tools you can use to enhance your coding speed, along with their pricing, best use cases, and limitations:

| Tool Name | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |-------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------|----------------------------| | GitHub Copilot | $10/mo per user | Autocompletion | Limited support for niche languages | We use this for quick suggestions. | | Tabnine | Free tier + $12/mo pro | Code suggestions | Can be slow with large codebases | Good for basic tasks, but not robust. | | Codeium | Free | Code generation | May lack context in complex projects | We don’t use this since it’s too basic. | | Replit | Free tier + $20/mo pro | Collaborative coding | Limited features in free tier | Great for real-time collaboration. | | ChatGPT | Free + $20/mo for Plus | Code explanations | Not always accurate | Use this for understanding complex code. | | Sourcery | Free + $15/mo for premium | Code improvement | Limited language support | We find it useful for refactoring. | | Codex | $0-20/mo depending on usage | Natural language queries | Requires OpenAI API key | We don’t use this because of cost. | | Polycoder | Free | Multi-language support | Still in beta, can be unstable | Good for experimental projects. | | DeepCode | Free + $10/mo for pro | Code reviews | Limited to specific languages | Useful for catching bugs early. | | AI Dungeon | Free + $9.99/mo for pro | Creative coding prompts | Not tailored for traditional coding | Fun to use but not practical. | | Jupyter Notebooks | Free | Data science projects | Not ideal for web development | We use this for data analysis tasks. | | Codeium | Free | Quick snippets | Basic functionality | We don’t use it for serious projects. | | IntelliCode | Free | Contextual suggestions | Limited to Visual Studio | Great if you're already in the ecosystem. | | Ponicode | Free + $12/mo for pro | Unit testing | Can be complex to set up | We find it useful for improving test coverage. |

What We Actually Use

In our experience, GitHub Copilot and Tabnine do the heavy lifting for us. They speed up our coding without overwhelming us with too many suggestions.

Step 2: Setting Up Your Environment

1. Install Your Chosen Tools: Depending on the tools you’ve selected, install them as plugins in your IDE.
2. Configure Settings: Adjust settings to tailor the suggestions to your coding style. For example, if you prefer concise code, set your AI tool to provide shorter snippets.

Step 3: Speed Coding with AI

1. Start a New Project: Open your IDE and create a new project.
2. Use AI for Boilerplate Code: Let the AI generate initial templates or boilerplate code. For example, with GitHub Copilot, start typing your function name, and it will suggest the body.
3. Ask for Help: If you’re stuck, use ChatGPT or similar tools to ask for explanations or debugging tips. For instance, “Why is this function returning null?”
4. Refactor with AI: Once your code is functional, use Sourcery or similar tools to suggest improvements and refactor your code for better performance.

Troubleshooting: What Could Go Wrong

• Too Many Suggestions: If you’re overwhelmed by suggestions, adjust the sensitivity settings of your AI tool.
• Inaccurate Code: AI can sometimes provide incorrect code. Always test snippets before implementing them into your project.
• API Limits: Be aware of API limits for tools like Codex; exceeding them can halt your progress.

Next Steps: What’s Next After This

Once you’ve optimized your coding speed with AI, consider exploring advanced topics like:

• Integrating AI into your CI/CD pipeline
• Automating testing with AI tools
• Using AI-generated documentation to speed up onboarding for new team members

Conclusion: Get Started Today

You can significantly increase your coding speed by integrating AI tools into your workflow. Start with GitHub Copilot and Tabnine, and explore other tools based on your specific needs. In just an hour, you can set everything up and begin experiencing the benefits.