Ahmad
Back to all articles
Workflow & Process
24 May 2025

My AI-Enhanced Development Workflow

AP

Ahmad Parizaad

Founder & Lead AI Engineer

My AI-Enhanced Development Workflow

I ship code 3x faster than I did two years ago. Not because I type faster, but because I stopped doing things AI can do better.

The Tools I Actually Use

GitHub Copilot - Not for writing entire functions, but for eliminating boilerplate. Type a function name, get the scaffolding. I still write the logic.

Claude/ChatGPT - My rubber duck on steroids. I paste error messages, ask "what's wrong with this approach?", and get instant second opinions.

AI-Assisted Code Review - Before I submit a PR, I run it through an LLM asking: "What edge cases am I missing?" Catches stupid mistakes before humans have to.

The Workflow

1. Architecture First

AI can't design systems. I still whiteboard, write ADRs, and think through tradeoffs. AI helps after I know what I'm building.

2. Scaffolding with Copilot

Generate the boring parts:

  • Test file templates

  • API route boilerplate

  • Type definitions from API responses

3. Implementation (Human + AI)

I write the critical logic. AI fills in the repetitive stuff. Acceptance: I'm the architect, AI is the junior dev.

4. Testing

Ask AI: "Generate test cases for [function]". It thinks of edge cases I forget. I still write the assertions.

5. Documentation

AI writes the first draft of docstrings, READMEs, and API docs. I edit for clarity and accuracy.

What AI Can't Do (Yet)

  • Understand business requirements

  • Make architectural decisions

  • Debug truly novel problems

  • Understand your specific codebase context

The Productivity Mindset

AI is a tool, not a replacement. I'm not "competing with AI" I'm leveraging it to focus on high-value work.

Time Saved Per Week:

  • ~5 hours on boilerplate

  • ~3 hours on documentation

  • ~2 hours on Stack Overflow searches

Time Invested:

  • Deep problem solving

  • System design

  • Code review

  • Mentoring

The Future

In 5 years, "AI-enhanced developer" will just be "developer." The ones who resist will be left behind. The ones who rely too much will ship garbage.

The sweet spot? Use AI for the grunt work. Save your brain for the thinking work.