How do you use AI coding tools without becoming overly dependent on them?
A computer science graduate with limited hands-on coding experience is seeking advice on how to use AI coding tools without becoming overly dependent. The user notes that while they initially try to understand every line of AI-generated code, the process becomes time-consuming, leading them to increasingly rely on AI and eventually stop reviewing its changes. They are looking for personal experiences and advice on maintaining independence while utilizing these tools.
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PublishedOffset at this time: UTC+0Oct 10, 2026, 16:14 UTC
IngestedOffset at this time: UTC+0Oct 10, 2026, 17:00 UTC
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- Oct 10, 2026, 16:14
- Ingested
- Oct 10, 2026, 17:00
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Hello everyone! I have a computer science background, but I have to admit that during my undergraduate years, I was pretty lazy about actually building things. I spent much more time reading textbooks than writing code, so I never got much hands-on experience building projects from scratch.
Now that AI coding tools are everywhere, I feel like they’ve exposed just how weak my practical coding skills are.
Whenever I start a project with AI, I initially try to take things slowly, understanding every line of code and looking up unfamiliar syntax. But this takes forever, and eventually I start letting AI write more and more. Gradually, I stop reviewing its changes altogether.
Before I know it, the project has grown into something I barely understand. When something breaks, all I can do is keep asking AI to fix it, and I can’t even tell whether its changes are correct. I really want to break this cycle and become someone who can actually build, understand, and maintain their own projects.
Should I force myself to build projects from scratch, following official documentation, before using AI to help write code? Or is there a better way to improve my coding skills while still taking advantage of AI?
For those who have dealt with something similar, how do you balance hands-on learning with AI-assisted coding? How do you avoid becoming overly dependent on AI?
Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!