In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, Artificial Intelligence has transcended from a futuristic concept to an indispensable daily companion. AI-powered tools are no longer just a novelty; they are essential for accelerating workflows, automating mundane tasks, and allowing developers to focus on what truly matters: engineering elegant solutions to complex problems. This post explores how I integrate AI into my daily coding practice and why I consider it a cornerstone of modern development.

Why AI is a Game-Changer for Developers

At its core, software development is about creative problem-solving. AI tools amplify this creativity by:

  • Accelerating Development Cycles: By generating boilerplate code, suggesting function implementations, and even writing unit tests, AI significantly cuts down on development time.
  • Enhancing Code Quality: AI assistants act as a second pair of eyes, catching potential errors, suggesting performance optimizations, and ensuring adherence to best practices.
  • Facilitating Continuous Learning: When encountering a new library or language feature, AI can provide instant explanations, code examples, and documentation, turning the IDE into an interactive learning environment.

My AI-Powered Development Toolkit

1. GitHub Copilot in Neovim

As a Neovim user, I live in the terminal. GitHub Copilot integrates seamlessly into this environment, providing intelligent, real-time code completions that feel like magic. It anticipates my needs, completes complex logic, and helps me stay in the flow without context switching.

I use these plugins to supercharge my Neovim setup:

  • copilot.vim : The official plugin for providing core code completion functionality.
  • CopilotChat.nvim : This is where the real power lies. It provides a chat interface to interact with Copilot, enabling me to ask questions, refactor code, and generate snippets on the fly. It brings powerful, agentic capabilities right into my editor, similar to how Cursor works.

For those exploring other options, avante.nvim is another promising plugin that has been gaining traction in the Neovim community.

Neovim Copilot Screenshot

2. Gemini CLI

Google’s Gemini CLI is a phenomenal open-source tool that brings the power of the Gemini models directly to the command line. Its generous free tier (60 requests per minute and 1,000 per day for the 2.5 Pro model) makes it incredibly accessible. I use it for quick refactoring, generating documentation, writing commit messages, brainstorming solutions, and creating entire projects from scratch without ever leaving the terminal.

Gemini CLI Screenshot

3. Opencode

OpenCode is another excellent terminal-based AI agent that offers a different philosophy compared to Gemini CLI. While Gemini CLI provides a deeply integrated experience with Google’s ecosystem and powerful agentic features, OpenCode’s primary strength is its flexibility and model-agnostic approach.

Its key differentiators are:

  • Provider Freedom: Unlike Gemini CLI, which is tied to Google’s models, OpenCode supports a wide range of providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and even open-source alternatives like DeepSeek. This allows you to switch between models based on your needs or subscriptions.
  • Focus on Terminal UI: The creators are deeply invested in creating a best-in-class terminal user experience (TUI), making it a natural fit for developers who live in the command line.
  • Open Source and Extensible: Being 100% open-source, it invites community contributions and transparency.

I use OpenCode alongside Gemini CLI to leverage different models and enjoy its highly-optimized terminal interface. It’s a fantastic choice for those who value flexibility and a polished command-line experience.

ℹ️ Note: There are currently two repositories named OpenCode. The one you want to use is by SST, which is linked above. If you’re wondering why there are two repos with the same name and purpose, you can learn more from this post on X by Dax, one of the creators of OpenCode.

OpenCode Screenshot

Getting Started with AI in Your Workflow

If you’re new to AI-powered development, here’s a simple way to start:

  1. Pick One Tool: Don’t try to adopt everything at once. Start with GitHub Copilot, as it’s one of the most mature and widely integrated tools.
  2. Integrate it with Your Editor: Whether you use VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, or Neovim, there’s likely a Copilot extension available.
  3. Start Small: Use it for simple tasks first, like writing comments, completing functions, or generating boilerplate. As you build trust in the tool, you’ll naturally start relying on it for more complex scenarios.

Conclusion

AI tools like GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, and OpenCode have fundamentally transformed my development process. They’ve eliminated friction, automated repetition, and freed up cognitive bandwidth to focus on higher-level design and problem-solving. In today’s fast-paced technological landscape, embracing AI is crucial for staying current and unlocking your full potential as a developer.