How to Become an AI-powered Developer?
The AI revolution isn’t coming to software development — it’s already here. If you’re still writing code line by line without AI assistance, you might be missing out on a massive productivity boost. Let’s explore what it really means to become an AI-powered developer and how you can get started today.
The Dramatic Results: Real Numbers from the Field #
Pedro, who’s been using AI development tools for over four months, shared some incredible productivity metrics from his work. When he compared his first three months of the year (before AI) to the second quarter (after adopting AI tools), the numbers were staggering:
Pedro explained: “I could see incredible numbers like five times the number of line code that I created before, three times more features, more PRs created. I could divide the code into testing, actual code, and documentation, and then I could see for example almost four times more code in terms of feature code, six times more code in terms of testing code, and eight times more code in terms of documentation.”
These aren’t just productivity gains — they represent a fundamental shift in how we approach software development.
Why Every Developer Needs to Act Now #
Igor made a crucial point about the current job market: “Jobs are just starting to appear where they expect you to generate code. If you don’t know how to use these tools to work for you, to help you become an AI-powered developer, you’ll probably be out of the market in no time.”
This isn’t about AI replacing developers — it’s about AI-powered developers replacing those who don’t adapt. Your existing knowledge isn’t worthless; you need to amplify it with AI tools.
The Three Levels of AI-Powered Development #
Based on the discussion, AI development tools operate on three distinct levels:
- Auto-completion: Basic code suggestions as you type (like GitHub Copilot’s original features)
- Chat coding: Interactive conversations where you ask AI to write specific code snippets
- Agent coding: AI agents that can write, test, and iterate on entire features autonomously
The most productive developers are already using level 3—agent coding.
Essential Tools and Their Costs #
Here’s a breakdown of the main AI development tools discussed:
Premium Options #
- Cursor: $20/month - Popular among startups and individual developers
- GitHub Copilot: $10/month - Mature and well-integrated with VS Code
- Junie (JetBrains): $10-20/month - Requires IntelliJ Ultimate subscription
- Windsurf: $15/month - Another agent-based IDE
Budget-Friendly Alternatives #
For developers concerned about monthly subscription costs, there’s an excellent option:
Cline + OpenRouter: This combination lets you use various AI models on a pay-per-use basis. Pedro demonstrated using the Qwen3-Coder model for just 30 cents to add a complete feature with testing.
As Igor pointed out: “For many people, having to pay $10 or $20 per month is a barrier, depending on where you live and your currency. So you do have a cheap option to get started using Cline with OpenRouter.”
Real-World Success Story: A Complete Backend Without Writing Code #
Igor shared an impressive example where he built an entire Java Spring MVC microservice using JetBrains Junie without writing a single line of code manually. The result included:
- Complete REST API with proper validation
- Comprehensive unit tests (133 tests passing)
- Database migrations with Flyway
- Full OpenAPI documentation
- Proper error handling and logging
Igor emphasized: “Of course, I’ve reviewed it completely. You need to know how to do that by hand. Otherwise, you will not know how to instruct AI about that. So your knowledge is not thrown away — it’s very important.”
The Art of Effective Prompting #
Success with AI development tools comes down to providing proper context and guidance. Both Pedro and Igor mentioned using “rules” (in Cursor) or “guidelines” (in JetBrains Junie) to instruct the AI about:
- Coding standards and best practices
- Project-specific requirements
- Security guidelines
- Testing approaches
- Documentation standards
Igor’s advice: “The more input you give the AI, the more precise it will be. You need to be a problem solver, a software engineer that understands it all.”
Critical Best Practices #
1. Always Review AI-Generated Code #
Pedro stressed: “You are responsible for your code. There’s something someone said in the chat last time: if you’re AI coding and you’re not looking at your code, you are not AI coding — you are blind coding.”
2. Maintain Your Technical Skills #
Don’t become completely dependent on AI. Continue to:
- Understand the code being generated
- Test thoroughly
- Stay sharp with fundamental programming concepts
- Learn from the AI’s solutions
3. Start with Clear Context #
Provide detailed requirements, guidelines, and examples to get better results from AI tools.
Getting Started: Your Action Plan #
- Choose your entry point: Start with a free tier of Cursor, GitHub Copilot, or try Cline with OpenRouter for budget flexibility
- Create guidelines: Document your coding standards and project requirements
- Start small: Begin with simple features and gradually work up to more complex tasks
- Review everything: Treat AI as a smart junior developer who needs supervision
- Learn continuously: Study the generated code to improve your own skills
The Future is Now #
The transformation is happening rapidly. Major players like Microsoft (GitHub Copilot), Google (Gemini Code Assist), and Amazon (CodeWhisperer) are all investing heavily in AI development tools. The startup pioneers like Cursor and Windsurf are pushing innovation, while established companies are catching up fast.
Pedro’s closing thought: “This is something that will change our lives, change our way of work. It’s already changing, and it’s fun. Let’s enjoy it — it will be a bumping ride, but let’s enjoy it.”
The question isn’t whether you should become an AI-powered developer — it’s how quickly you can start. The tools are available, the results are proven, and the market is already shifting. Your journey to becoming an AI-powered developer can begin today.
What’s your experience with AI development tools? Have you tried any of these approaches in your projects? Share your thoughts and let’s learn from each other!