Artful.One

LLM Beginner Advice for Coders

While GitHub Copilot has become a staple tool for many developers, the landscape of AI-powered development tools extends far beyond simple code completion. Here's a curated guide to some of the most powerful tools that can transform your coding workflow.

1. Cursor: The AI-Enhanced Code Editor

Cursor takes the familiar VSCode experience and supercharges it with comprehensive AI integration. Built on VSCode's foundation, it maintains compatibility with your favorite extensions while adding powerful AI capabilities throughout the editor.

What sets Cursor apart from basic code completion tools:

  • Contextual Code Generation (Ctrl+K): Generate entire functions, classes, tests, or project structures with natural language prompts
  • Interactive Chat (Ctrl+L): Get code explanations, refactoring suggestions, and context-aware assistance
  • Smart Autocompletion: More accurate and context-aware than traditional tools

Real-world example: I recently used Cursor to build multiple pages for a theater website. Instead of writing boilerplate code, I simply provided structured notes about the content:

/**
 * Theater: Third Rail Repertory Theatre
 * Director: Philip Cuomo
 * Writer: Liz Duffy Adams
 * [Additional production details...]
 */

Cursor then generated complete pages using existing components and styles, dramatically accelerating the development process. At $20/month, it often proves more cost-effective than pay-as-you-go API calls to other LLMs.

2. Aider: Your AI Pair Programmer

Aider transforms any LLM into a command-line coding assistant. This open-source tool excels at:

  • Large-scale code refactoring
  • Content processing and summarization
  • Tool integration (browser, filesystem, database)

While you'll need to pay for the underlying LLM service, Aider's efficiency often justifies the cost. It's particularly valuable for tasks like processing review summaries or implementing feature updates across multiple files.

3. LLM CLI: Versatile Command-Line Intelligence

The LLM command-line tool offers a streamlined interface for AI interactions. Pro tip: Use OpenRouter's API endpoints for cost-effective access to multiple LLM providers. Common use cases include:

  • Quick command lookups: llm "what is the pandoc command to convert a mobi format book to pdf"
  • Content processing: cat file.txt | llm -m openrouter/gemini-pro "summarize this text"
  • Technical queries: llm -m claude "Are there any Deno libraries for rendering git-flavored-markdown?"

4. Deno: Modern Runtime with AI Integration

Deno offers a modern, secure alternative to Node.js with built-in TypeScript support and excellent LLM integration. Key advantages:

  • Superior package management
  • Built-in security features
  • Seamless deployment through Deno Deploy
  • GitHub Actions integration for automated deployments

5. Hugging Face: Your AI Development Hub

Hugging Face serves as both a platform and community for AI development. It provides:

  • Access to thousands of models
  • Free hosting for experiments
  • Easy-to-use tools and APIs
  • Active community for feedback and collaboration

6. UI Frameworks: Gradio and Streamlit

These Python frameworks excel at creating user interfaces for AI applications:

  • Gradio: Quick prototyping and simple interfaces
  • Streamlit: More flexible, feature-rich applications

Both frameworks support rapid iteration and make it easy to showcase your AI projects to users.

Remember, the key to maximizing these tools isn't just knowing how to use them individually, but understanding how to combine them effectively in your development workflow. Start with one tool that addresses your most pressing need, then gradually incorporate others as you become more comfortable with AI-assisted development.