Tired of writing repetitive codes, tedious debugging, and struggling to keep pace with deadlines? We’ve felt those pressures too. That’s why, we’re leveraging the power of Generative AI (GenAI) to make app development smarter, not harder.  

In this blog, we’re excited to share how we’re integrating GenAI into our daily workflows to boost efficiency, improve code quality, and accelerate delivery.  

So, how are we making this happen? 

We see AI as a powerful co-pilot, augmenting human capabilities, not replacing it. Our approach to leveraging GenAI is two-pronged:  

1. Direct Querying:  We utilize popular GenAI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for ideation, problem-solving, and research. 
2. Integrated Development Environments (IDEs): We leverage IDEs like Visual Studio Code with GitHub Copilot and Cursor AI for AI-powered assistance.

Diving Deeper: Our GenAI Tool-kit & Use Cases 

Let’s explore how these AI tools are transforming our development lifecycle: 

Direct Querying: ChatGPT, Claude 

Sometimes, the best approach is to directly ask. Our developers use ChatGPT and Claude for: 

• Research and Problem-Solving: Need clarification on a complex programming concept? Stuck on a specific error message? ChatGPT provides a wealth of information, consolidating resources that would otherwise require extensive Googling. For example, blockers that require R&D, ChatGPT provides the materials required for reference all in one place, rather than having to Google and refer to different sources.
• Brainstorming: Exploring diverse approaches and potential solutions before writing a single line of code.  
• Natural Language to Code: Converting natural language descriptions into functional code snippets. 
• Documentation: Generating initial drafts for documentation. 

Leveraging AI-integrated IDEs: Visual Studio Code with Github CoPilot, Cursor AI 

By integrating AI directly into the IDE, these tools are revolutionizing how we write, review, and debug code. Below are some of the employee insights on how AI is making an impact:  

1. Code Generation:  
   • UI Code Generation: Generate UI elements for frameworks like Angular from wireframes or text descriptions. For example, asking for “Fetch API data & display in a table” provides substantial code for a head start.  
   • API Integration Code: Create code to interact with APIs based on data models. For example, a developer using an Angular API to integrate into their app could ask ChatGPT to generate code. Cursor can then be used to write and test the code. 
   • Rapid Prototyping: Rapid prototyping of new technologies to test feasibility. For example, one of our developers built a caching mechanism with NgRx in 15 minutes using Cursor AI.

2. Code Completion: Both GitHub Copilot and Cursor AI excel here. They suggest functions, complete lines, and auto-fill repetitive code. Developers report Copilot helps write cleaner code with relevant suggestions, while Cursor offers real-time snippets, especially useful with frameworks like PrimeNG. 

3. Code Review & Optimization:

• • Proactive Code Review: Provide code context to AI to identify issues and suggest improvements. Our developers use Cursor AI for a pre-submission check before a Pull Request. 
  • Refactoring: AI can also refactor messy code to simplify complex code structures, like breaking down large functions. 
  • Data Conversion: Effortlessly converting data structures (e.g., JSON to XML) or code snippets between different formats. 

4. Debugging Support: AI can be powerful for debugging issues when they occur. Developers can provide context and source code related to a specific issue (e.g., a screen crash) for analyzing error messages, interpreting logs, and suggesting potential causes and debugging steps. For example, if a developer sees a “NullPointerException”, Cursor AI can explain the potential causes, such as accessing a null object, and suggest ways to fix it.

5. Code Explainability & Documentation: AI helps bridge knowledge gaps. It can explain existing code blocks in simple language, especially useful for onboarding new team members for understanding unfamiliar modules. It can also auto-generate inline comments for better readability and initial drafts of documentation strings or function descriptions.
6. Unit Testing Scripts: Developers can use AI to generate skeletal structures for unit testing by providing the code, which helps reduce the effort by about 30 to 40% in simple scenarios. It is especially helpful for learning syntax and basic formats. It can also create mock data for test scenarios.

Business Impact: 

The impact of integrating GenAI is clear: 

• 30% Increase in Development Efficiency: By automating repetitive tasks and providing intelligent suggestions, AI is drastically cutting down development time up to 30%. 
• Improved Code Quality: Early error detection, optimization suggestions, and better documentation contribute to more robust and maintainable code. 
• Faster Learning and Prototyping: Developers can quickly explore new technologies and build working prototypes in a fraction of the time. 

Lessons Learned for Maximizing AI Effectiveness: 

Our journey has taught us valuable lessons: 

• Effective Prompting is Key for better AI Results: We’ve learned that the quality of AI-generated output is directly tied to the prompts and context we provide. 
  • Provide Detailed Context: Explain the problem, related files, and expected outcomes. 
  • Specify Tech Stack & Requirements: Helps AI generate more relevant code. 
  • Visual Cues Help: Use Wireframes for UI Queries, which helps AI in understanding the design intent.
  • Iterate and Refine: Refine with Follow-up Prompts to improve outputs.
• Choosing the Right AI Tool:

• • ChatGPT: Excels at ideation, problem-solving, debugging, and learning. 
  • Claude: Ideal for prompt engineering and refining outputs. 
  • Cursor AI: Shines as an integrated IDE with real-time suggestions and a chat interface for development queries. 
  • VS Code + GitHub Copilot: Offers seamless in-line code completion and custom AI plugin support. 

Looking Ahead:  

We believe AI will continue to evolve making software development faster, smarter, and more efficient. At Unvired, we will continue to invest in training and skill development to ensure our team can effectively leverage powerful AI-tools, delivering exceptional value to our customers. The fusion of human skills and AI is not just our future—it’s our present. 

Ready to supercharge your app development? Contact us for more information on how you can leverage AI in your own development process.