Every web developer has tasks they prefer to avoid. Or ones that take up too much time. Often, it’s the little things that get in the way of more important work.
You could hire someone to help with these tasks. But that can be cost prohibitive – not to mention inefficient. And there is also the challenge of finding a reliable person.
This is where the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT comes into play. Although they can not do everything for us, they can make quick work of common tasks. This leaves you with more time to focus on other aspects of your projects.
Today, we’ll look at some common tasks that ChatGPT can do for web developers. You might be surprised at some of the capabilities.
Create a Regular Expression Based on Your Instructions
The logic and syntax of regular expressions (regex) can be difficult to understand. So much so that you might hear the thought of having to write one. We hear you!
On the other hand, regex can be quite powerful. It can be used to find matching data in even the most complex text strings. If you’re writing code, you’ll eventually need one.
Based on our experiments, ChatGPT is very good at generating regular expressions. We asked him to write an expression that could find a unique identifier within a URL. With just a few basic parameters in our prompt, the tool immediately produced the code and explained how it works.
If you don’t use AI for anything else in your life, this might be the only task worth trying. It could save your sanity.
Write a Basic WordPress Plugin
Sometimes, the hardest part of writing a custom WordPress plugin is getting started. Trying to take “it all in” at once can lead to frustration. And working within the various APIs that WordPress offers can be confusing.
ChatGPT can help. No, it won’t write you a full-fledged WooCommerce competitor. But it can help point you in the right direction.
For example, you could use it to create a basic plugin. And the tool can also help you add features as you think of them. ChatGPT remembers your “conversations” and lets you go back to them at any time.
A good start is vital. AI can take care of the initial dirty work. Once you have a solid foundation for your plugin, the sky’s the limit.
Summarize a Blog Post for SEO
It is good practice to submit a meta description for website content. It can have a positive impact on search engine optimization (Senior). In addition, it helps readers understand the content while browsing a search results page (SERP).
But writing these summaries can be a pain. Especially if the content was written by your client. You will have to read it whether you are interested or not. And then you will need to write a description in 155 characters or less.
Why not ask ChatGPT? Give it the URL and ask for a limited summary of characters. In a few seconds, you’ll have a good starting point.
Sure, you may need to fine-tune some of the wording. But that’s still faster and easier than doing it yourself.
One side benefit: if you’re using WordPress, you can also use the generated text as a quote.
Debug Buggy Code Snippet
It’s easy to get frustrated while debugging code. You could spend hours trying to figure out why a snippet isn’t working. And even the smallest syntax error can be the culprit. There are better ways to spend an afternoon (or evening).
Modern development tools can point out errors. Or they are effective at telling you have an error – they don’t always give details.
Before you reach the end of your engine, try ChatGPT. It can spot those pesky syntax issues. If the tool feels particularly generous, it may provide you with a corrected version.
In our testing, the tool was able to identify errors in both JavaScript and PHP scripts. And it only took a second.
This does not guarantee that you will be able to resolve all issues. But it’s worth the time to see if AI can help.
Find the Right Tool for Your Project
Researching tools for your development project can be time-consuming. Plus, depending on the functionality you want; finding a great game isn’t always easy.
Thankfully you can use AI as a trusted advisor. Ask ChatGPT to suggest ways to build a specific type of website and it might just be the solution.
For example, asking: “Which WordPress plugin can I use to build an online course?” produces a handful of fruits. It doesn’t tell you which one is best, but is there to provide options. From there, you can take a closer look.
At the very least, it might lead you to a tool you hadn’t thought of. You could also save a little time searching the web.
Take advantage of What AI Can Do For Your Workflow
Every web developer can benefit from two things: a helping hand and more time. AI, and ChatGPT in particular, can provide a bit of both.
And we’re just beginning to scratch the surface of what’s possible (for better or worse). These tools won’t take over your job during a vacation, but they can help you get things done faster.
The above items are examples of how AI can turn your workflow into a well-oiled machine. It is especially convenient for those who work in a fast-paced environment. Because the last thing we want is to be bogged down with a menial task.
It seems that developers are finding new ways to leverage the power of AI on a daily basis. So feel free to give it a try. Think about tasks that bother you and see if this new technology can help you. You may end up crossing more things off your to-do list.
