Aug 06, 2024
tech,
AI
Top 10 Must-Have GenAI Tools for Programmers
Once a futuristic concept, Generative AI is now a world-renowned instrument for creating new content. However, what does AI have to do with programming? Well, actually, a lot.
From writing code to debugging, AI for programming is a way to automate mundane, repetitive tasks, which boosts developer coding productivity and code quality. GenAI tools are the catalysts for this transformation!
For example, such a tool as AlphaCode has outperformed almost half of all programmers in coding competitions. And CodeWP powers more than 40% of the world’s websites. Isn’t that fantastic?
So, let’s explore ten essential generative AI tools for programmers to supercharge your programming workflow. Ready to write better code faster? Dive in!
The fundamentals of using GenAI tools
The question of choosing the right GenAI tool can be quite controversial. Before making any decision, try to think about what your purpose is. What are the core criteria?
For example, consider such variables as
- Supported programming languages
- Integration with existing developer tools
- Tools
- Cost
- Functionality
With a clear understanding of your requirements, you can delve deeper into the core functions of GenAI tools.
Core functions of GenAI tools
- Code autocompletion
Due to this feature, GenAI can predict the subsequent code segment. The suggestion is commonly based on the existing context.
- Code generation from descriptions
Actually, it sounds funny, but programmers no longer need to write code. By providing a natural language description of what they want to achieve, AI for developers can generate code snippets. Rest assured, everything works fine!
- Code refactoring
GenAI tools can also be your best teachers. They not only write code for you but also help you improve your skills! For example, AI code assistants can suggest structure, readability, and maintainability improvements.
- Bug finding and fixing
Remember when you wrote that beautiful code, convinced it was a masterpiece of efficiency and elegance? Unfortunately, the dreaded runtime error followed too closely. In fact, a programmer can spend hours, days, or even to decipher the root cause of the issue. With GenAI, finding and fixing the bugs is a matter of seconds.
- Document creation
GenAI can also assist in generating code comments and docstrings. By providing clear explanations of code functionality, GenAI helps developers collaborate more effectively and reduce the time spent deciphering complex codebases.
TOP 10 GenAI tools for programmers
Let’s explore ten most common GenAI tools that can significantly enhance a programmer's workflow, boost productivity, and foster innovation.
| Tool | Functionality | Price | Use cases | Pros | Cons |
| GitHub Copilot | Suggests code completions, code review, entire lines, or even whole functions based on the context of the code | Monthly: $10/month | Code generation, code completion, refactoring | Deep integration with GitHub, access to a massive codebase for training, ability to generate complex code snippets | Can sometimes suggest incorrect or suboptimal code, potential for copyright issues due to training data, reliance on GitHub's pricing model |
| Tabnine | Offers code completions, entire lines, and function suggestions | Free tier, paid tiers for additional features | Code generation, code completion, refactoring | Offers both cloud-based and local models, supports multiple programming languages, provides code completion suggestions based on local code context | Might not be as powerful as models trained on massive datasets, local models can be slower, free tier has limitations |
| Codex | Generates code from natural language descriptions, provides code completions, and can explain code | Included in OpenAI's API pricing — $20 per month | Code generation, code completion, code explanation, debugging | Strong foundation from OpenAI's language models, ability to generate code from natural language descriptions, versatile tool with various applications beyond code completion | Can be expensive due to API usage, might generate incorrect or inefficient code, requires careful prompt engineering |
| AlphaCode | Generates code for programming competition problems | Currently in research phase, not commercially available | Code generation for competitive programming | Demonstrated impressive code generation capabilities in competitive programming, potential for groundbreaking advancements | Currently a research project, not commercially available, limited real-world applications |
| VisualStudio | Provides code suggestions based on the code context | Included with Visual Studio — $45 per month | Code completion, basic code suggestions | Tight integration with Visual Studio, reliable basic code completion, available without additional costs | Limited to basic code suggestions, lacks advanced features like code generation or refactoring |
| ChatGPT | Can generate human-quality text in response to a wide range of prompts, including code-related questions | Subscription-based — $20 per month | Code explanation, debugging assistance, learning resources | Can provide explanations for code, can generate code examples, versatile language model | Might not always generate correct code, can be less efficient than specialized code generation tools |
| CodeTS | Focuses on code search, understanding, and transformation | Subscription-based | Code search, code refactoring, code analysis | Deep code understanding, ability to find relevant code snippets, supports various code transformations | Requires learning the tool's specific syntax, might not be as intuitive as some other options |
| Polycoder | Offers code completion, code generation, and code refactoring | Subscription-based | Code generation, code completion, refactoring | Supports multiple programming languages, provides advanced code suggestions, integrates with popular IDEs | Can be expensive for individual developers, might have limitations in specific programming languages |
| WPCode | Specializes in generating WordPress code and snippets | Subscription-based — $99 per month | WordPress code generation, theme customization | Tailored for WordPress developers, efficient code generation for WordPress projects | Limited to WordPress-related tasks, might not be suitable for other programming languages |
| AskCodi | Provides code explanations, debugging assistance, and learning resources | Free tier, paid tiers for additional features | Code explanation, debugging, learning | Offers clear and concise code explanations, provides interactive learning experiences, supports multiple programming languages | Free tier might have limitations, might not be as advanced as some specialized code generation tools |
What do we have in the end?
- GitHub Copilot, Tabnine, Codex, ChatGPT, AskCodi would be perfect for individual developers. They are suitable for developers working on personal projects, students, or those in small teams.
- Such specialized tools as WPCode suit developers working on specific platforms or domains, requiring specialized code generation capabilities.
- Codex, Polycoder, CodeTS are also good for businesses and enterprises.
Practical tips for using GenAI tools
There are indeed countless tips and tricks for effectively using GenAI tools. The best practices often depend on the specific tool, task, and individual preferences. Here are the most common:
Query optimization
Query optimization is the process of refining your prompts to elicit the most accurate, relevant, and helpful responses from a Generative AI model. It's akin to sharpening a tool before use - the better the query, the better the results.
Example: Netflix uses sophisticated algorithms to optimize search queries, understand user intent, and provide relevant recommendations.
Tip: Break down complex queries into smaller, more specific prompts.
Integrate into the workflow
Integration into the workflow refers to the process of seamlessly incorporating GenAI tools into your existing development processes. It's about making AI-powered coding an integral part of your daily routine, rather than an isolated tool used occasionally.
Example: Amazon's product recommendations system is deeply integrated into the customer journey, suggesting items based on browsing and purchase history.
Create custom models
Creating custom models involves training a pre-existing AI model on specific data to improve its performance on a particular task. It's like teaching a generalist to become a specialist.
Example: Tesla's Autopilot system relies on custom models trained on vast amounts of driving data to achieve advanced self-driving capabilities.
Tip: Start with a pre-trained model as a foundation and fine-tune it with your specific data.
Summing up…
By no doubt, GenAI has revolutionized the world. However, remember, the key to maximizing its benefits lies in understanding your needs. Tabnine can be suitable for small businesses or simple tasks. Copilot is more designed for complex projects and large teams.
And as the field of AI continues to advance, we can expect even more sophisticated and specialized tools to emerge.
Go beyond just using GenAI tools! Book a free consultation with Innovation Feel, and our experts will build you effective software using GenAI.
