FREE: TASK: Your First AI-Assisted Project

Before we dive into the techniques and workflows, you need a project to work with. This is a hands-on course, and you'll get the most value by following along with actual code.

Your Own Project (Recommended)

The best learning happens when you work with code that matters to you. I encourage you to:

Choose a project in your preferred language

• Pick something you're familiar with
• Should be substantial enough to have multiple files and some complexity
• Doesn't need to be huge – even a small web app or utility is perfect

Create a safe space to experiment

• Create a new branch: git checkout -b ai-pro-workshop
• Or make a full copy of your project
• This way you can experiment freely without worrying about breaking your main codebase

What makes a good practice project?

• Has at least a few files and folders
• Contains some logic you can refactor or improve
• Could benefit from tests, documentation, or new features
• Ideally something you'd like to actually improve (not throwaway code)

Don't Have a Project? Use Mine!

If you don't have a suitable project ready, that's perfectly fine. You can use the same project I'll be working with throughout the course.

This is a Node.js starter project that uses PostgreSQL. It's a simple but realistic codebase with:

• Database connectivity
• Basic CRUD operations
• Room for improvement and expansion
• Clear structure that's easy to understand

To get started with it:

git clone https://github.com/robconery/node-pg-start
cd node-pg-start
git checkout -b ai-pro-workshop

Then open it in VS Code and you're ready to go!

Next Steps

Once you have your project ready and open in VS Code, you're all set to start learning the techniques that will level up your AI-assisted development workflow. Make sure your AI assistant is connected and working, and let's get started!