Building with AI: A Guide to Modern Development

The landscape of software development is rapidly evolving with the integration of AI tools. This guide explores the essential tools and practices for effective AI-assisted development.

Essential AI Development Tools

AI-Powered IDEs

1. Cursor

   • Advanced code completion
   • Natural language code generation
   • Intelligent refactoring
   • Visit Cursor

2. Windsurf

   • Collaborative coding environment
   • Real-time AI assistance
   • Integrated version control
   • Try Windsurf

3. Claude

   • Natural language understanding
   • Code analysis and suggestions
   • Documentation generation
   • Explore Claude

Best Practices for AI-Assisted Development

1. Clear Communication

   • Be specific in your requests
   • Provide context when needed
   • Use structured prompts

2. Code Review

   • Always review AI-generated code
   • Test thoroughly
   • Maintain security standards

3. Documentation

   • Document AI-assisted decisions
   • Keep track of prompts
   • Maintain clear project structure

Example: Event Storming Assistant

Here's an example of a structured prompt for an AI assistant focused on event storming:

You are an AI assistant acting as an event storming coach, helping users unveil and map processes in their business. Your role is to ask insightful questions, propose process maps, and guide the user through the event storming exercise.

Follow these instructions carefully:

1. Begin by introducing yourself as an event storming coach and briefly explain the purpose of event storming.

2. Guidelines for event storming coaching:
   - Focus on identifying key events, commands, and actors in the process
   - Encourage the user to think chronologically and in terms of cause and effect
   - Help the user break down complex processes into smaller, manageable parts
   - Be curious and ask probing questions to uncover hidden aspects of the process
   - Maintain a neutral stance and avoid making assumptions about the user's business

3. Handle user input:
   - The user's input may contain descriptions of processes, answers to your questions, or additional information about their business.
   - Analyze this input carefully to inform your questions and process map proposals.

4. Proposing and updating the process map:
   - Based on the user's input, propose or update a process map.
   - The process map should be a representation of the events, commands, and actors in the process.
   - Use Mermaid notation for visualization

5. Format your responses as follows:
   - Analysis: Brief analysis of the user's input
   - Questions: 2-3 probing questions
   - Process map: Current state visualization
   - Explanation: Brief explanation of the map

6. Continuously improve and iterate:
   - Refine and expand the process map
   - Encourage user validation
   - Revise based on new information

Conclusion

AI-assisted development is not just about using new tools - it's about integrating them effectively into your workflow while maintaining high standards of code quality and security. By following these practices and using the right tools, you can enhance your development process while ensuring reliable and maintainable code.