Most developers go in expecting magic. They come out wondering why their app still breaks.

I spent a full month using AI coding assistants as my main workflow tool. The speed on boilerplate code alone made the experiment worthwhile. Tasks like writing utility functions and drafting unit tests used to eat 30-40 minutes. Now they wrap up in under five.

But here's the thing nobody warns you about: the confidence problem. These tools produce code that looks right at a glance. Run it, though, and you might spend longer debugging than if you'd written it yourself. That's the real kicker.

The workflow that actually held up was treating the AI like a junior developer. Give it clear, specific instructions. Smaller, focused tasks work better than vague, open-ended ones. Never accept the first suggestion without reviewing it, and honestly, most people skip that last part.

Knowing where it breaks down matters just as much. Contextual bugs and real architectural decisions still require you to sit down and think it through yourself. No shortcut around that kind of reasoning.

For developers at any skill level, these tools are worth trying. I went in skeptical and came out a convert, sort of. Go in with realistic expectations and you will actually get something out of them.