If you follow me, you may know that I've been writing code and building websites for over 5 years.
I started with the usual process - buying a Udemy course, building websites with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and then moving on to CSS and JavaScript frameworks.
My go-to tech stack was simply using React JS or Next JS with TailwindCSS. But after the launch of ChatGPT and other AI tools, I started using them, which changed my usual process.
Fast forward to today, I've integrated multiple AI tools into my workflow to complete most of my tasks.
The reason is simple - it doesn't make sense to write code manually when there are so many AI tools out there, and it's clear that AI is changing programming in a big way.
And today, I'm going to share the "7 best AI tools" you can use in your programming journey.
The best part? These tools will save you time, help you get more done, and even help you make more money.
Note: This post is part of my AI Made Simple newsletter, and it doesn't contain any affiliate links. All of these AI tools are free to use up to a limit or offer a free trial.
With that said, let's start.
1. Cursor AI
Well, I tried this one when I found out they hit $100M ARR in just 21 months.
And my mind was blown.
It reminded me of Sam Altman's words, that there will be a one-man billion-dollar company very soon.
I'm talking about Cursor AI - an AI code editor where you can use LLMs and build apps directly in the editor.
You can ask it to build specific features or pick a piece of code and modify it however you want.
And the best part? It predicts your next move, the code you'd write, and gives you suggestions based on that.
Sure, it has even more cool features (you can check them out here), and I see a lot of programmers already moving from VS Code to Cursor AI.
As for pricing, there's a free plan to get you started.
2. CodeRabbit AI
This is another insane AI-powered tool that lets you review your code line by line and gives you suggestions in no time.
I'm talking about CodeRabbit AI - and I've been using it for over a year now.
So how does it work?
Well, you need to create an account, choose a plan, and connect your repositories. Once that's done, CodeRabbit AI integrates directly into your pull requests.
And that's it.
Every time a pull request is created, CodeRabbit AI automatically gives you summaries, code reviews, walkthroughs, and more.
Now, let's talk about some of its killer features:
- First off, it creates bullet-point summaries based on the changes you or your team made - and even gives you walkthroughs, sequence diagrams, and more.
- And the best part? It suggests one-click fixes right inside your code. Plus, it easily integrates with GitHub, GitLab, and Azure DevOps repositories.
Insane, right?
Now, we all know that reviewing code takes a lot of time (and yeah, it's boring). And when your app crashes or doesn't load because of some tiny mistake, you're stuck debugging for hours.
Well, CodeRabbit AI changes all that. It makes code reviews super easy and fixes mistakes with just one click.
As for pricing, there's a free trial to get you started, and the Pro version is free forever for all open-source projects.
3. Buildpad
I bet most of you have never heard of this AI-powered tool before but trust me, it's insane.
And this one's made specifically for founders, and it helps you go from an idea to building a successful product.
I'm talking about Buildpad.
But Nitin, what makes this tool so special?
Well, it gives you a 7-phase process that clears up your doubts, provides real data, and guides you through everything you need to launch your own SaaS product (or something similar).
Now, let me give you an example.
I wanted to build my AI newsletter to help everyday people by sharing AI tools and strategies they can actually use.
And for that, I used this tool - and it made the whole process so much easier.
Here are some of the killer questions it asked me when I was figuring out the actual need for the newsletter:
Insane, right?
4. ChatGPT & Claude AI
Now, if I'm writing a post about the best AI tools for programmers, it's obvious I can't skip ChatGPT and Claude.
Also, I believe that no matter which new LLM comes out, ChatGPT and Claude will always be among the best LLMs.
Now, let's talk about how you can use ChatGPT and Claude for programming.
First off, you just ask any programming-related question, and it gives you the right answer in seconds.
And thanks to these AI tools:
- You can ask how to learn a specific programming skill and even get a step-by-step roadmap.
- You can build your dream apps just by prompting - no need to be a programming expert.
- You can ask about the latest advancements and research - and even build AI agents to automate your work.
- And so much more.
Insane, right?
5. Otter AI
Now, let's talk about an AI tool that's not directly related to programming - but every one of you needs this.
I'm talking about Otter AI.
But before we get into what it does, let me give you some context. As a programmer, you might have a job or work as a freelancer.
And in both cases, you probably attend a lot of meetings - and remembering the key points from all those discussions? That's a struggle.
Take me, for example - I work with multiple clients.
Some days, I have 4 to 5 meetings back-to-back, where clients talk about their projects, the changes they want, or other important stuff.
And yeah - sometimes I forget key points. Sometimes I even have to write things down on paper just to keep track.
That's when I started using Otter AI, and I haven't looked back since.
I mainly use it to get automated meeting notes and summaries for all my calls. It captures everything and provides it in short bullet points so I don't miss a single detail.
Talking about pricing, there's a free plan you can start with.
And honestly, I think the free version will be enough for most of you.
6. Uizard
If you've been following me, you know I've been a web developer for over five years.
At first, I worked on low-paying projects. But as I gained more experience, I started getting better ones.
And when I started working with high-paying clients, it was obvious that I had to deliver better-quality work.
So I started hiring Figma designers (yes, I wasn't great at creating UIs) to design websites for my clients.
But now, I've made the process so much simpler, all thanks to Uizard.
With Uizard, I just write a prompt to generate UI designs. And the more precise my prompt, the better the designs I get.
Sure, sometimes I tweak them a bit, but overall, it saves me so much time.
I usually design two to three options for my clients and let them pick their favorite.
The result? My clients get more choices, and I can easily design UIs - saving both time and money.
7. Framer
Let me be honest - I've tried Wix AI, Butternut AI, Dora AI, and most of the other AI website builders.
But my favorite has always been Framer, and I've been using it a lot to generate websites and sell them to my clients.
Sure, I could use ChatGPT, Claude, and other LLMs too but I prefer Framer because it gives me tons of customization options.
First of all, Framer is a drag-and-drop tool that lets anyone build a website without writing a single line of code.
Later, they even released Framer AI, where you just need to write a prompt, and it generates the website for you.
That's not all - you can further customize fonts, colors, and much more. And I think it's a lot easier to use.
Talking about pricing, Framer is free for most tasks.
You only need to upgrade when you want advanced features or to publish on a custom domain.
Hope you like it.
That's it - thanks.
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