AI Assisted Software Development

What is AI assisted software development?

AI assisted software development is exactly as it sounds - software development that is assisted by AI. The key word here is assisted.

When experienced developers and AI come together, the results can be incredibly impressive. We can generate repetitive code in a fraction of the time, automate standard activities, explore different solutions in minutes and speed up testing & bug fixing. What this means for you is usually quicker delivery and lower project costs.

However, there's a world of difference between using AI to help build software and letting AI build it for you. We bring the technical knowledge, experience and critical thinking. AI is another - granted, extremely powerful - tool in our toolkit and one we use when it makes sense to do so and never as a substitute for doing things properly or dropping the robust standards we have worked to for decades.

How does Cool Code Company utilise AI?

Transparency is a core part of how we work and in this section, we'll tell you exactly what our developers utilise AI for and why.

Generating repetitive, low risk code:

We use AI only for straightforward, non complex coding tasks where the risks are low and the requirements are clear. This usually means routine code that follows established patterns, leaving our developers free to focus on the more complex functionality that requires their experience and expertise. All AI generated code is reviewed and tested by our developers before it's used.

Exploring solutions:

AI can help our developers explore different ways of approaching a problem, compare potential solutions and identify options they might not have immediately considered. This can dramatically speed up the research process and help us weigh up the pros and cons of different approaches before presenting you with the best options for your software. The final decision on the options we put forward always rests with our developers, who use their experience and technical knowledge to determine what will work best in practice. Without AI, we simply wouldn't be able to explore as many possibilities in the same amount of time.

Expanding testing capabilities:

Testing can be a huge drain on our developers. AI can help them create test scenarios, identify potential edge cases and highlight areas of code that may need attention. This allows us to explore more ways things could go wrong and catch potential issues earlier in the development process. AI doesn't replace hands on testing or our developers' own quality checks, but it can give us an extra pair of eyes and help us test much more thoroughly.

Troubleshooting:

When something isn't working as expected, AI can help our developers investigate potential causes, analyse error messages and explore possible fixes much quicker than if we had to work through it all manually. This can speed up the process of tracking down bugs and resolving issues, particularly when there are several possible causes to consider. Our developers use their experience to evaluate the suggestions, identify the underlying problem and implement the right solution rather than simply accepting the first answer AI provides.

Documentation:

Producing and maintaining software documentation can be time consuming to say the least but it's just as important as any other step in the development process. AI can help by generating first drafts, summarising code and explaining how different parts of a system work. This gives our developers a head start, leaving them to review, refine and verify the documentation to ensure it's accurate, useful and relevant to your software.

So, there you have it. Those are the activities we use AI to help us with. 

When would Cool Code Company not use AI?

Now we covered the areas AI can help us with, let's take a lot at the areas where we will not use AI:

When you ask us not to:

First things first, if you ask us not to use AI, we won't use AI. Whilst many of our clients appreciate us using AI to help speed up their projects, we understand that sometimes, the use of AI is not acceptable. This is particularly relevant in heavily regulated industries where contracts may prohibit AI use or where clients have specific security, confidentiality or compliance requirements.

We'll always respect your requirements and agree on the approach before development begins.

Architectural and technical decisions:

A firm no go for AI because choosing how your software is structured has long term implications for its performance, security, scalability and maintainability. Decisions about databases, system architecture, integrations and how different components communicate require an understanding of the full picture and this of course requires a human brain.

For complex business logic:

Bespoke software by it's very nature often needs to manage complicated business rules, exceptions and dependencies that are unique to your organisation. Think pricing calculations, financial transactions, resource allocation or workflows where one decision affects multiple other processes. AI can help us explore possible approaches, but our developers need to understand your requirements, challenge assumptions and ensure the resulting code behaves exactly as intended.

When sensitive information is involved:

We won't put confidential client information, personal data, passwords, API keys or other sensitive material into AI platforms full stop. We also need to consider where data is processed, how it is stored and whether the AI tool is suitable to process the information involved. Protecting your data is much more important than saving on development time and we hope you'll agree.

Final testing and quality control:

As we've mentioned already, AI can help us generate test scenarios and identify potential problems but it cannot replace the need for thorough, independent testing. Our developers need to verify that the software meets your requirements, can manage unexpected inputs, respects user permissions and behaves correctly in real world scenarios. Passing an AI generated test isn't proof that software is ready for production, we need the humans for that.

What's in it for you?

You may be wondering why any of this is relevant to you. The fact is, when we benefit, you benefit.

Using AI to speed up certain aspects of the development process naturally means it takes us less time to complete your project. Less time to complete your project means may mean less costs for you or, alternatively, you can get more done within your budget.

However, AI isn't a shortcut to cheaper software in every situation and we're not going to make promises we can't keep. The benefits depend on the nature of your project and where AI can genuinely make a difference in a responsible and secure way.

AI assisted development v vibe coding

Before we finish, it's important we make a very clear distinction between AI assisted software development and vibe coded software development as they are two very different things and we do NOT vibe code at Cool Code Company.

So, what is it?

Vibe coding uses prompts to generate software, often without any level of technical planning or understanding of what's happening behind the scenes. Anyone can vibe code, only experienced developers can build robust software. That being said, it can be a fantastic way to experiment with ideas and build prototypes but problems can and do arise when that software needs to become a secure, reliable and maintainable system that is fit for purpose in the real world.

AI assisted development on other hand is a totally different beast. Our experienced developers use AI as a tool to support their work and not as a substitute for their expertise. They remain responsible for the technical decisions, the code and the finished product, applying the planning, testing and quality control needed to deliver the robust software your business deserves.

What now?

If you're exploring bespoke software, whether that be for a brand new system, an upgrade to your existing application or something else altogether we would love to hear from you.

Our experienced, UK based developers wlll take the time to understand your business, challenges and goals before walking you through your options. We'll give you honest advice that comes from a place of extensive experience on the best approach for your project, including where AI can help speed things up, reduce costs and deliver better results.

Then it's over to you to decide which approach you want to take or whether you want to go ahead at all. No obligations, no pressure. We only ever want what's right for our clients business and that's why we've worked with some of them for over 15 years.

Further reading

AI & Vibe Coded Software - The lowdown

AI & Vibe Code Remediation

AI Integration

FAQs

Q) Does AI assisted software development affect ownership of the finished software?

A) Ownership rights totally depend on the development agreement, the code involved and the terms of any third party tools or services used. These details should be considered before development begins so there is clarity over ownership, licensing and any restrictions that might apply.

Q) Is AI assisted software development suitable for large or complex projects?

A) Yes. AI can support certain activities within projects regardless of their size, including large, enterprise software systems. The value it adds comes down to the requirements, technical challenges and the work involved. Complex projects still require careful planning, experienced developers and appropriate quality assurance.

Q) Can AI assisted development be used to upgrade existing software?

A) Yes. AI is fantastic for helping developers understand unfamiliar code, investigate issues, explore improvements and support the development of new functionality. Before making any changes, it's important to understand how the existing system works and assess the potential impact on other features and integrations.