The Evolution of AI-assisted coding features and developer interaction patterns | sankalp's blog

Yes, I agree that's a fancy title. But consider this - what started as simple autocomplete suggestions has evolved into something far more powerful – we now have AI that can generate entire functions on the fly, scaffold complete files with proper architecture, and even bootstrap entire codebases from scratch. The tools have evolved from being helpful typing assistants to becoming collaborative coding partners.

The progress has been pretty insane. Whether you are a new developer or a seasoned professional, I think understanding and adapting to these features/tools is the need of the hour. As these tools advance, it's becoming a bit complex to figure out which ones to use to maintain tight control. when to let AI take the wheel.

How much control should we give to these AI assist coding features? I present an analogy here. You can think of AI-assisted coding features to be the gears of a car. In first gear, you have maximum control over the engine but move slowly - that's the autocomplete. Shift up through the gears (conversational assistant, cursor chat, agentic mode), and you trade granular control for more speed and automation.

Historical Narrative - What breakthroughs happened that led us to here. I think this is essential for us to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of these tools. Some of you are too spoilt and take these tools for granted.

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