Development Practices: A Guide to Building with AI

What You'll Learn

This guide will show you how to effectively build features, manage code quality, and work with AI tools in your development process. You'll learn practical approaches to minimize technical debt while maximizing productivity.

Quick Start

1. Start with MVP (Minimum Viable Product) planning
2. Break down features into small, testable chunks
3. Write and test incrementally
4. Document as you build

Why This Matters

Good development practices are like having a well-organized workshop - they help you build better software faster and with fewer mistakes. When working with AI, these practices become even more important.

Building Features: The MVP Approach

Planning Your MVP

Start with this template to plan your feature:

# Feature: [Name]

## Core Functionality
- What problem does this solve?
- Who needs this feature?
- What's the simplest solution?

## MVP Requirements
Must Have:
- [ ] Core feature 1
- [ ] Core feature 2

Nice to Have (Future):
- [ ] Enhancement 1
- [ ] Enhancement 2

## Technical Considerations
- Dependencies needed
- Security implications
- Performance impact

Prioritization Framework

Use this decision matrix for features:

Priority Matrix:
┌─────────────┬────────────────┬────────────────┐
│ Impact      │ Low Effort     │ High Effort    │
├─────────────┼────────────────┼────────────────┤
│ High Value  │ Do Now         │ Plan Carefully │
├─────────────┼────────────────┼────────────────┤
│ Low Value   │ Do If Time     │ Skip           │
└─────────────┴────────────────┴────────────────┘

Implementation Strategy

Breaking Down Features

Example breakdown of a user authentication feature:

1. Phase 1: Basic Auth

   - [ ] Login form
   - [ ] Password validation
   - [ ] Session management
   Test after each component
   

2. Phase 2: Security

   - [ ] Password rules
   - [ ] Rate limiting
   - [ ] Error handling
   Test security features thoroughly
   

3. Phase 3: UX

   - [ ] Error messages
   - [ ] Loading states
   - [ ] Success feedback
   Get user feedback early
   

Managing Technical Debt

Debt Detection Checklist

Watch for these warning signs:

# Technical Debt Indicators

## Code Smells
- [ ] Functions longer than 20 lines
- [ ] Duplicate code blocks
- [ ] Unclear variable names
- [ ] Missing documentation
- [ ] Hardcoded values

## Architecture Issues
- [ ] Tight coupling
- [ ] Circular dependencies
- [ ] Inconsistent patterns
- [ ] Mixed responsibilities

Prevention Strategies

# Best Practices

## Code Organization
- One function = one responsibility
- Keep files under 200 lines
- Use clear naming conventions
- Document complex logic
- Write tests first

## Review Process
- Self-review before commit
- AI review for patterns
- Peer review for logic
- Test coverage check

Working with AI Tools

Code Generation Guidelines

# AI Code Usage

## Before Generating
1. Clear problem definition
2. Specify constraints
3. List requirements
4. Identify edge cases

## After Generating
1. Review thoroughly
2. Understand every line
3. Test edge cases
4. Document decisions

Quality Control Process

# Code Review Steps

## Self Review
- [ ] Understand all code
- [ ] Check edge cases
- [ ] Verify error handling
- [ ] Test functionality

## AI Review
- [ ] Run static analysis
- [ ] Check patterns
- [ ] Verify best practices
- [ ] Test performance

## Documentation
- [ ] Add inline comments
- [ ] Update README
- [ ] Document decisions
- [ ] Note dependencies

Testing Strategy

Test Planning Template

# Test Plan: [Feature Name]

## Unit Tests
- [ ] Component functions
- [ ] Utility methods
- [ ] Edge cases
- [ ] Error states

## Integration Tests
- [ ] API interactions
- [ ] Database operations
- [ ] State management
- [ ] Event handling

## End-to-End Tests
- [ ] User workflows
- [ ] Error scenarios
- [ ] Performance checks

Common Pitfalls and Solutions

Problem: Over-engineering

Solution: Start with the simplest solution that works. Add complexity only when needed and justified.

Problem: Unclear Requirements

Solution: Use this requirements template:

# Feature Requirements

## User Story
As a [user type]
I want to [action]
So that [benefit]

## Acceptance Criteria
1. Given [context]
   When [action]
   Then [result]

## Technical Notes
- Dependencies
- Constraints
- Performance requirements

Problem: Inconsistent Code

Solution: Create and follow a style guide:

# Style Guide

## Naming
- Components: PascalCase
- Functions: camelCase
- Constants: UPPER_SNAKE_CASE

## Structure
- One component per file
- Group related functions
- Order imports consistently

## Documentation
- JSDoc for functions
- Inline comments for complexity
- README for setup

Continuous Improvement

Daily Practices

• Review code before commits
• Update documentation
• Run tests
• Check for technical debt

Weekly Reviews

• Code quality assessment
• Documentation updates
• Performance checks
• Security review

Quick Tips for Better Development

1. Start Small

   • Build incrementally
   • Test frequently
   • Document as you go

2. Stay Organized

   • Use consistent patterns
   • Keep code modular
   • Maintain clear structure

3. Work Smart with AI

   • Understand generated code
   • Verify AI solutions
   • Keep human oversight

Next Steps

After implementing these practices:

1. Start with a small feature
2. Follow the MVP approach
3. Document your process
4. Review and adjust

Remember: Good development practices make your code better, your life easier, and your AI collaborations more effective!