ChatGPT has changed software development!

However, 68.1% of Software Engineers still don't use it.

As a CTO, I'm telling my teams to use ChatGPT in their daily work to increase both velocity and quality.

This is how 👇
In my poll last week, I was surprised to learn that most Software Engineers aren't using either GPT-3, nor Github Copilot, nor any other AI tools.

It seems they either see no value, or they don't know where to start.
I'm describing below 10 use cases where ChatGPT will make your work easier and/or better as a Software Engineer.

You can steal the prompts and use them in you day-to-day work.

Happy coding👇
1/ Generate boiler plate code

To build a new project from scratch, I ask ChatGPT to create a skeleton of the app I need, using the technologies, frameworks and versions I choose.

I can even make it part of my team's documentation. It saves at least an hour or so each time boiler plate code chatgpt gpt-3 generative ai
2/ Research and compare

Many times there are different ways to implement something. So my usual approach is to build a rough PoC of two competing approaches and compare.

ChatGPT can do it for me:
- React vs Vue
- Algorithm A or B
- etc

This saves half day of work, easily. compare react.js with vue.js using chatgptcompare react.js with vue.js using chatgptcompare react.js with vue.js using chatgptcompare react.js with vue.js using chatgpt
3/ Explain code

How many times our work is simply to understand a code base that wasn't built by us? Spaghetti code, with no comments. We die a little bit line by line.

Now we can ask ChatGPT to explain what the code does, and we save a bunch of time. explain code using chatgptexplain code using chatgpt
4/ Comment code

We can extend the point 3 above by adding line by line comments to that code base we didn't build.

But we can also make our own code properly commented before shipping, by asking ChatGPT to add comments.

No more uncommented code in PRs. comment code using chatgptcomment code using chatgpt
5/ Write test cases

Ask ChatGPT to generate test cases for a list of scenarios. Even tell which framework, version etc you want to be used. Boom, it will do it for you.

No more untested PRs. generate code tests using chatgptgenerate code tests using chatgpt
6/ Write documentation

You can ask ChatGPT to write documentation on things like:
- How to spin up a certain code base,
- The packages required for it to run
- What the code does,
- What are the know limitations.
- Etc.

It might not be perfect, but the 80/20 rule applies. generate technical documentation using chatgptgenerate technical documentation using chatgpt
7/ Generate regexes

Regexes are one of those specific syntaxes we don't use from time to time. We need to Google, look up syntax and spend significant time every time we need one.

Not anymore, we can just ask ChatGPT to generate it. generate regex with chatgpt
8/ Rewrite code using correct style

I just wrote down some code conventions from one of my teams and added it to the prompt, along with some spaghetti code.

Very useful when merging code from different repos/teams, that would need to be refactored before merging. rewrite code following style guidelines with chatgptrewrite code following style guidelines with chatgpt
9/ Find bugs in your code

When you know what you want, but the code doesn't do what you want. Instead of adding console.logs all over the place, you can ask ChatGPT to spot the bug for you.

This works best on function level bugs, not repo level. Still, a massive improvement. Find bugs in code using chatgptFind bugs in code using chatgpt
10/ Leetcode type algorithms

If you need a specific isolated function, to run on optimal complexity. ChatGPT can get you a very fast start.

An obvious use case for this is coding interviews. But sometimes it's useful in the day to day work too.

See these 3 examples:
Get all prompts from the 10 examples above in the link below.

It's totally free, just download and use them as you please.

sergiorocks.gumroad.com/l/chatgpt-prom…
For all Software Engineers who are shitting on AI tools. Don't do it.

You should NOT be afraid of AI taking your job.

Instead, you should be excited that you can leverage it to be more productive and/or create higher quality output.
Inb4: ChatGPT has obvious limitations. It's answers are incomplete or wrong sometimes.

In my 13 years of experience writing and reviewing code, critical thinking is a must-have skill, both with humans and with AI.

Don't push ChatGPT's responses to prod without reviewing first.
I personally apply the 80/20 rule.

I leverage ChatGPT on the 80% of tasks that create 20% of the value. That's usually tedious time consuming tasks that must be done regardless.

This way, I can focus more on the high leverage work that creates most of the value.
That's a wrap!

If you enjoyed this thread:

1. Follow me @SergioRocks for more of these
2. RT the tweet below to share this thread with your audience
Some people (very rightfully!) pointed out an angle that I missed.

By uploading your code to ChatGPT (or similar tools) you may run into IP, copyright & privacy issues.

Do NOT send any passwords, API keys, or such sensitive information. Assume that what you send becomes public.

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More from @SergioRocks

Jan 12
This is a great outline by Arvid. Homes will be built for working as much as they are built for living.

In fact, people are spending much more time at home than ever before.
When I made a renovation in my current house, 5 years ago, I built an office space out of a corner of the living room.

It's the place where I spend most of my working hours. And I don't impact my wife and kids, even when I work at american times.
Now that I'm building a new house to move later this year. It has 2 offices for deep work (one for me, and one for my wife), and has a few "social" areas that we can use for creative work or simply stretch our legs.
Read 4 tweets
Jan 11
I became a Startup CTO very early in my career.

The biggest drawback I felt was becoming isolated into a role with high pressure to deliver, with a tight budget, at a time where my network was still small.

Joining roundtables with other CTOs was a game changer for me.
I remember in my first roundtable:

Moderator: "What's unique about you?"

Me: "I feel tremendous impostor syndrome. I feel that I'm failing and not keeping up with expectations"

Moderator: "Well, I' don't think that's unique of you"

Everyone: "Yes!" (all nodding in agreement)
Sharing experiences and vulnerabilities with like minded people was very important to me.

Suddenly I:
- Realised others have similar vulnerabilities.
- Learned how they handle them.
- Realised I'm actually doing ok.

I can only recommend people to join such "discussion forums".
Read 6 tweets
Dec 21, 2022
I've worked from home for the past 7 years.

During this time, I've:
- Had offers above $300k/year.
- Worked with people in 40+ countries.
- Developed an async-first culture in my teams.

This is what I know about remote work👇
Btw, I've compiled all this knowledge in my course Mastering Remote Work.

Today is the last chance to join the waitlist and grab a 30% discount during the private launch:
remote-work.io/course-masteri…
Remote work is a fundamental shift in the way we work.

100 years ago -> Industrial age:
- One location
- 9-5 schedule

Today -> Information age:
- Remote
- Async-first
Read 9 tweets
Dec 13, 2022
Should Software Engineers be afraid of AI taking their jobs?

TL;DR: Not as much as you might think. They should be more excited than afraid, actually.

A short 🧵
With tools like ChatGPT and Github Copilot maturing in the open market, it's now clear that AI tools will have a very important part to play in the future of software development.

Eg: See how ChatGPT solves code interview challenges:
But is a Software Engineer's job to simply look up algorithms and type them into a code editor??

NO!

That's something AI already does much faster than a Human. But frankly, that's the boring part of the job.
Read 13 tweets
Dec 8, 2022
As a Fractional CTO, these are my 5 most common assignments:

1/ Transitioning from outsourcing to an in-house team:

- Many startups begin with a low budget, hiring dev shops or freelancers to build an MVP. With funding, they need help to hire the right in-house team.
2/ Making key tech decisions:

- As a Fractional CTO, I help startups decide on tech stack, select vendors, lead integrations with clients, and define underlying processes to professionalize tech operations.
3/ Defining scalable hiring processes:

- In the hyper-growth phase, I help startups define positions to be hired, source candidates, and create scalable interview and onboarding processes.
Read 7 tweets
Dec 7, 2022
"I decided to look for a new job last month.

Now that I've started taking interviews, I hear layoffs everywhere.

What should I do?"

Layoffs are scary, but many tech companies are hiring normally.

A few questions to ask in interviews before accepting an offer:

Short 🧵
"Is your company profitable?"

- If the company is profitable, it means there's little dependency on venture funding (or none at all).

- That is a very good position to be, now that VCs are not investing as before.
"What's your runway?"

- If the company is NOT profitable, it depends on VC funding.

- While the company is not profitable, that money will be burned and the company will need to raise more.

- Runway means "# months until the money runs out".

- 18+ months is good. 24+ ideal.
Read 6 tweets

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