In this post, I’ll share how ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot for Visual Studio and open source libraries like Chart.js, and Leaflet.js help me build faster, write cleaner code, and continuously learn, all while delivering a polished web app.
AI-powered coding: GitHub Copilot & ChatGPT
Instant code suggestions with GitHub Copilot
- Faster Development: GitHub Copilot (integrated into VS Code) suggests entire functions, API calls, and even complex logic in real-time. Example: When implementing GPX file parsing, Copilot auto-generated boilerplate code for XML parsing, saving me hours.
- Fewer Errors: It catches syntax mistakes and suggests optimizations, reducing debugging time.
- Code documentation: Auto generating comments means less typing.
Learning & problem-solving with free ChatGPT
- Debugging Assistant: When I hit a roadblock (e.g., a weird bug in Leaflet.js), ChatGPT explains the issue and suggests fixes.
- Learning New Concepts: Instead of sifting through docs, I ask ChatGPT for tailored explanations (e.g., "How does Chart.js tension work?").
- Generating Sample Code: Need a quick example of a dynamic Chart.js graph? ChatGPT provides a ready-to-use snippet.
- Refactoring: Easily recaftor, clean up and get suggestions for code optimization and performance improvements.
Ideas, design and content
- Feature ideas: AI chat tools help me come up with new feature ideas.
- Architecture: It helps to recommend architecture patterns.
- Content production: In this age of SEO you have to produce content to get traction.
- Business ideas: AI helped me come up with ideas for how to monetize the app.
- Logo design: AI was used to design the logo.
I typical have several threads or topics active in different AI tools in different browser windows. Using different AI tools in different windows makes it easier to jump between conversations as I can more easily identify which conversation is active in which browser window.
Although Github Copilot is increasingly getting better, it is still a bit slow as it takes the codebase into context and provides more integrated code.
Visual Studio + AI = A developer’s dream
- Intelligent Autocomplete: VS Code’s built-in IntelliSense + Copilot means less typing, more building. I keep getting surprised by how often it actually predicts exactly what I need. Holy **** it is reading my mind. I keep thinking.
- Git Integration: Auto generate GitHub commit messages, although this is also usually slow.
Result: A polished app in record time
Before AI, building GpxFix would have taken weeks. Now, with:GitHub Copilot speeding up coding
ChatGPT explaining concepts
Chart.js & Leaflet.js open source for stunning visuals
Visual Studio streamlining everything
…I’ve built a fully functional, production ready web app with SEO, logging/alerting/monitoring and unit-tests in a week. I also managed to cram in competitor research and writing this blog post. Yes, I admit ChatGPT was also used to help craft parts of this page.
Basically, AI is helping me at every single stage of the development process.
If you’re a developer and not using AI assistants yet, you’re missing out on the biggest productivity boost in decades.
Final thoughts: AI isn’t replacing developers—It’s making us faster
AI tools don’t replace the need for coding skills, they enhance them. By automating repetitive tasks and accelerating learning, they let me focus on what matters: building a great product.If you’re a developer and not using AI assistants yet, you’re missing out on the biggest productivity boost in decades.
Vibe coding has become popular but for me as an experienced developer I want to keep learning and understand what is going on in my web app. I don't want to just tell the computer what to build and then constantly instruct the AI to redo and change stuff until it gets it right.
Try GpxFix here: www.gpxfix.eu
Try GpxFix here: www.gpxfix.eu
How are YOU using AI in development? Let me know in the comments!
