Embracing AI: My Beginner Journey into Coding

(with some frustration along the way)

Hey everyone! It’s only been a few weeks since I began exploring the world of AI tools for coding websites, and let me tell you—what a ride it’s been. Before diving in, I was a total beginner when it came to web development. The irony? My first project is a landing page for a prototype tool meant to help people figure out their niche and build a personal brand. You know, something I myself am trying to figure out! It’s been both fun and absolutely maddening.

The Tools I’ve Been Using (and Struggling With!)

Like many beginners, I gravitated towards AI tools to help speed up the learning curve. I’ve been experimenting with Replit, Cursor, V0, and Bolt, hoping they could smooth the way for my landing page. The idea was to create a questionnaire-based tool that uses AI to help people identify their niche, with a follow-up plan on how to develop their personal brand. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, not quite.

  1. Replit Agent
    This tool is a game-changer when it works. You describe what you want in natural language, and it tries to handle the heavy lifting of coding for you (AlternativeTo). In theory, this should’ve been perfect for a newbie like me. In practice, though, I’ve wasted hours dealing with recurring errors that left me banging my head against the wall. Still, the instant deployment features are a lifesaver, and I can see how useful it will be once I understand it better (Geeky Gadgets).

  2. Cursor AI
    Cursor works more like a supportive co-pilot rather than taking full control. It gives suggestions and refines code but doesn’t do everything for you (Refined). For someone like me, who’s still learning the basics of web development, it’s been an invaluable learning tool. However, some of its features also drive me nuts—like, why does a simple prompt to sort my blog posts in chronological order seem so impossible? You’d think an AI this smart could handle such a basic request without causing errors!

The Beginner Struggles (Or: Why I’m Still Learning!)

Being new to web development, I’ve spent way more time than I care to admit just troubleshooting the same issues over and over. I thought AI agents would make everything easier, but reality quickly humbled me. These tools, for all their power, are not yet intuitive enough to understand my messy, beginner-level prompts without causing issues.

One big roadblock I’m still stuck on is getting my blog posts to sort themselves chronologically—something that should be simple, right? Yet, despite trying everything from different prompts to customizing code, the AI always seems to fumble this task. It’s frustrating but also addictive. Every time I think I’ve hit a wall, I just want to keep pushing to solve the problem.

Philosophizing About AI: Why Does This Fascinate Me So Much?

Despite the countless roadblocks, there’s something about AI tools that keeps me coming back. It’s like a puzzle—one that’s just within reach of being solved, but not quite. These AI agents have opened up a world where coding, which once seemed out of reach for someone like me, is suddenly accessible. But they also highlight how much I still have to learn to really leverage their potential.

This brings me to a deeper thought: are these tools supposed to replace us, or are they here to enhance our creativity? I’m leaning toward the latter. They force you to think critically about how you structure your requests and how much control you’re willing to give up. Yes, they can automate tasks, but they need guidance—a guiding hand that only humans can provide.

Conclusion: It's Addicting (and Frustrating), but I'm All In

I’m not giving up on this AI-powered coding journey, no matter how many times I face the same frustrating errors. I know I have a lot more to learn, and I’m embracing the process. AI tools like Replit and Cursor are helping me along the way, even if they’re not perfect. They’ve made web development feel more accessible, even for a complete beginner like me, and that’s something worth celebrating.

So, if you’re also new to this world of AI and coding, my advice? Don’t be afraid of the frustrations. The thrill of figuring things out is worth every headache.

What I saw today:

I’ve been watching loads of AI content on Youtube lately! But: we also just finished the new season of Rings of Power and, for fun, rewatched the old Lord of the Rings trilogy. It’s fascinating to see how much has changed in terms of storytelling and cultural influences. Rings of Power brings a modern twist, embracing more diverse characters and narratives, which reflects the ongoing "woke" culture movement in media. At the same time, the classic trilogy still holds up with its timeless themes of heroism and unity, offering a more traditional, but no less powerful, approach to storytelling. Comparing both has been such an interesting journey into how the fantasy genre has evolved!

What I listened to today:

What I liked today:

Random Thoughts:

Learning AI coding tools has been like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube while blindfolded. But each little step forward feels like a victory.

That’s it for today! ☺️