How Generative AI is impacting Developer Productivity?
Tags: productivity, developers, generativeai, ai
Published: 2024-06-28 14:36:25

Ever since ChatGPT has been introduced, internet and tech community have been going `gaga`, and nothing less! 

Icing on the cake is you can NOW generate even code :wow:

![Code wow](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/4br7teo74zqkgl3j1t1b.png)

Over the years, I've used many developer tools, developer productivity tools, and general productivity tools like Notion etc. Most of these tools, have helped get better at what I wanted to do, brought sanity in several of my workflows.

However, with Generative AI, it has become turnkey. Imagine, I've to quickly generate a OpenAPI spec, today I can do it with one of the Local LLMs like Llama using [Ollama](ollama.ai). 

In this blog, we'll explore how generative AI is reshaping developer productivity and redefining the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC).

Traditional Software Development Life Cycle looks like this:

![SDLC](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/eurdy7cyk09kswlh3x9c.png)

This process is complex, with a chance to have issues at each stage. While perfecting a validated product can streamline future development, introducing new features always carries the risk of bugs.

## Machine Learning and Developer Productivity

Even before Generative AI era, machine learning had already made significant strides in improving developer productivity.

- Observability into Code using Elastic, Grafana, or Sentry using anomaly detection.
- Build-time issue resolution - risk assessment, predictive tests.
- Code quality improvement through static analysis 
- and more...

## Rise of Generative AI

GPT-2, while pretty early, showed early signs of potential in code generation and developer productivity improvement. However, its knowledge base was limited (less parameters, training technique etc), and the term "Generative AI" wasn't popular at all.

### GPT-3

The introduction of ChatGPT and its underlying model, GPT-3, marked a significant leap forward in generative AI capabilities. 

![GPT3](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jia5d9omfyebal6koygl.gif)

This breakthrough has impacted both B2C and B2B sectors, particularly in the realm of business-to-developer interactions.

Some Highlights are:

- Code Interpreter in ChatGPT
- Improved Python/other Programming Language code generation
- Enhanced problem-solving capabilities, potentially reducing reliance on platforms like Stack Overflow

> Note: It's important to note that while these models are powerful, they can sometimes hallucinate or provide incorrect information, necessitating careful verification.

### Specialized Code Generation Models

Following ChatGPT's success, several code generation models have emerged:

- [DeepSeek](https://deepseekcoder.github.io/)
- [StarCoder](https://fireworks.ai/models/fireworks/starcoder-7b)
- [CodeLlama](https://ai.meta.com/blog/code-llama-large-language-model-coding/)
- [SQLLlama](https://github.com/defog-ai/sqlcoder)

These models show promising results in generating high-quality, domain-specific code. AI-Powered Development Environments building on the success of [GitHub Copilot](copilot.github.com), have emerged:

- [Cursor](cursor.com): An AI-first code editor
- [Tabnine](tabnine.com): AI-assisted code completion
- [Continue.dev](continue.dev)

> Note: If you are a CTO/VP of Engineering, it'd be great help to buy  copilot subs to your team. There are tons of good features that helps in reducing bugs, reducing overall fatigue in building good code.

These tools aim to streamline the coding process and boost developer 
productivity.

### Agentic AI and Workflow Automation

As generative AI continues to evolve, we're seeing the emergence of agentic AI frameworks that can potentially automate entire development workflows:

- [Crew AI](https://www.crewai.com/)
- [AutoGen](https://microsoft.github.io/autogen/)
- [LangChain](https://www.langchain.com/)
- [Lyzr](https://www.lyzr.ai/skott/?via=5688)

Open-source Tools like [Composeio](composeio.dev) further help orchestrate these AI-driven workflows across different systems bring productivity improvements.

The Next Leap in Developer Productivity

Generative AI is poised to revolutionise developer productivity, potentially automating significant portions of the SDLC. 

While human oversight and instruction will remain crucial, the ability to generate code, automate workflows, and streamline processes promises to accelerate product development and innovation.

At Middleware, we're committed to enhancing developer productivity our [open-source DORA metrics product](https://github.com/middleware/middleware) helps engineering teams improve efficiency by providing insights into PR reviews, identifying bottlenecks, and suggesting ways to enhance team performance over four important metrics.

As we continue to witness the rapid evolution of generative AI in software development, it's clear that we're on the cusp of a new era in developer productivity. The challenge now lies in harnessing these powerful tools effectively while maintaining code quality, security, and ethical considerations.

Let us know what you think? What I missed on writing here? OR you completely [feel like Jayant](https://dev.to/middleware/why-i-dont-use-ai-as-my-copilot-47k3), who feels constrained to use AI?