Use AI in Every Step or Fall Behind in Development

Use AI in Every Step or Fall Behind in Development - Photo by Redd Francisco on Unsplash

Today I want to talk about why you should be using AI in every single part of your development workflow. I mean it—everywhere. From the very first design mockup all the way to shipping your app, AI should be in the loop. Let me walk you through how I do it, and why it’s a total game changer.

AI in the Full App Lifecycle

Let’s start with the basics. When I’m building an app, I use AI from the get-go. That means right from the design phase—mockups, wireframes, you name it. Then, as I move through the pipeline, AI is there for code reviews, automation, and even deployment. If you’re doing web development or building APIs, dashboards, native apps, whatever, you can plug in tools like Codeex, GitHub Actions, or OpenAI’s Codeex to automate a ton of stuff.

Slash Commands: Your Secret Weapon

One thing I love is using slash commands. Basically, a slash command is just a prompt, but it’s a prompt you can automate. You can set up multiple AI agents to work for you, and with the right prompts, you get speed and efficiency that’s just wild.

But here’s the trick: you have to be super precise with your prompts. Think of the LLM (large language model) as a really good junior developer. If you don’t give enough context, or if you leave any room for misunderstanding, it’s going to get confused. Even if something seems obvious to you, you have to spell it out. Every edge case, every scenario—write it down. If there’s a gap, the LLM will find it, and it’ll do something you didn’t expect.

You have to be the product owner, the pilot, the one who knows exactly what the vision is. The AI is there to help, but you’re still in charge.

Feeding the Model: Context Is Everything

Don’t be shy about uploading images, assets, logos, color palettes—whatever you have that shows what you want your app to look like. And break things down into smaller prompts. Don’t dump everything at once. It’s like working with a junior dev: give them info bit by bit, more detail as you go.

Here’s how I do it:

1. Start with a basic prompt and see what the AI gives you.
2. If it gets it right, move to the next stage.
3. Test, iterate, and keep feeding it more context.
4. Let the agent work while you do other things, then come back and test again.
5. Repeat the process, stage by stage.

This approach gives you superpowers as a developer. You get more time to think, to focus on the vision, and to really consider the impact your app will have on users. The more clearly you communicate with the model, the better your results.

Use AI in Every Step or Fall Behind in Development - Photo by Mesh on Unsplash

When the AI Gets Stuck

Sometimes, the LLM just doesn’t get it. Maybe it’s stuck, or the troubleshooting isn’t going anywhere. Here’s what I do:

• Try a completely different approach.
• Give more context or share previous code snippets.
• Ask the AI to re-evaluate its output.
• Straight up ask, “Was this a good prompt? Is there a better way to phrase it?”

We’re basically speaking English with the model, so use proper English, lots of detail, and tons of context. The more you give, the better your results.

If your app isn’t coming out right, it’s probably your prompt. Iterate, refine, and keep your prompts small enough for the LLM to digest. Then, repeat.

Practical Example: Prompting for a Dashboard

Let’s say I want to build a dashboard. Here’s how I’d break it down:

1/ai generate dashboard layout
2Context: I need a dashboard for a SaaS app. It should have a sidebar, a main stats panel, and a notifications area. Use the company colors: #1a73e8 and #e8f0fe. Include placeholders for charts and tables.

If the AI gets it mostly right, I’ll follow up:

1/ai add user profile widget to sidebar
2Context: The widget should show the user’s avatar, name, and a dropdown for settings.

And so on. Each step, I’m giving more detail, testing, and iterating.

Why This Matters

Using AI like this doesn’t just make you faster—it makes you a better problem solver. You spend less time on grunt work and more time thinking about what really matters: the vision, the user experience, and the impact.

As I always say, “The more context you give, the better results you’ll get.” And honestly, that’s the key to leveling up as a developer in the age of AI.

Use AI in Every Step or Fall Behind in Development - Photo by Linus Belanger on Unsplash

Key Takeaways

• Use AI at every stage of development, from design to deployment.
• Treat the LLM like a junior developer: give clear, detailed prompts and cover every edge case.
• Break down tasks into smaller prompts for better results.
• Iterate on your prompts—if something’s off, it’s probably the prompt, not the AI.
• When stuck, try a new approach or ask the AI how to improve your prompt.
• Context is everything. The more you give, the better your outcome.

“You have to be the product owner, the pilot, the one who knows exactly what the vision is. The AI is there to help, but you’re still in charge.”

“If your app isn’t coming out right, it’s probably your prompt. Iterate, refine, and keep your prompts small enough for the LLM to digest.”

Kicker:

AI isn’t just a tool—it’s your new coding sidekick. Use it everywhere, and watch your workflow transform.