TLDR;
This video explores how AI can enhance mobile development, particularly through the use of AI agents like JetBrains' Junie. It highlights the limitations of web-based AI tools due to context issues and introduces AI agents as a solution that can understand and act within your project. The video presents two primary use cases: learning new concepts and coding, offering practical tips and examples for leveraging AI to boost productivity and efficiency in mobile development.
- Web-based AI tools have limitations due to context issues.
- AI agents can understand and act within your project.
- Two primary use cases: learning new concepts and coding.
Introduction [0:00]
Philipp Lackner introduces the video's focus on using AI to improve mobile development. He shares his experience in software development with Kotlin since 2019 and encourages viewers to subscribe for more content on full-stack development with Kotlin. The video will cover tips for maximizing the benefits of AI in mobile development.
The problem of web based AIs [0:23]
The discussion centers on the challenges of using web-based AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude in development. The main issue is the lack of context; these tools don't inherently know about your project. Developers must manually provide context by phrasing prompts, pasting relevant files, and interpreting the AI's responses. This process can be cumbersome, especially when the required context exceeds the AI's context window, which limits the amount of information that can be processed in a single prompt.
Junie & why I like it [1:20]
The video introduces JetBrains' Junie, an AI agent integrated directly into IDEs like Android Studio and IntelliJ. Junie has improved productivity compared to web-based AI tools. While other IDE-integrated AI agents exist, such as cloud code, Junie's interface is more user-friendly, making it easier to write prompts and process AI responses. The integration and interface of Junie make it a preferable tool despite comparable output quality with other AI tools.
What is an AI agent? [2:20]
An AI agent takes the typical web interface interaction to the next level by performing tasks for you, not just answering questions. It can take over parts of your development process. Junie finds the necessary context on its own by translating prompts into terminal instructions to locate relevant files. JetBrains' philosophy behind Junie is to create a tool for professionals to enhance productivity, rather than for inexperienced individuals looking to quickly build complex applications.
Use case 1: Learning [3:36]
The first use case is learning new concepts with AI. Using a compose multiplatform project as an example, the video suggests asking the AI about any code you're unsure about, such as whether to apply a multi-module architecture. Junie can be installed as a plugin in JetBrains IDEs. The AI agent analyzes the project structure to determine if a multi-module architecture makes sense, providing suggestions and a migration path in markdown format. It's important to fact-check AI responses, as they can be incorrect. If anything is unclear, ask for clarification until you can explain it simply. A useful trick is to copy the AI's response into a new tab and ask the AI to fact-check it, possibly using a different model, to identify potential mistakes or areas where the initial answer was too general.
Use case 2: Coding [10:27]
The second use case is coding, where AI can be used to increase productivity. Junie has a code feature and a brave mode that executes terminal commands. It's best to delegate simple to medium tasks to Junie, while using it to suggest strategies for complex tasks. For example, Junie can create an optimized landscape layout for a book details screen, referencing window size classes for responsive design. The AI provides detailed steps of its process, and developers have control over which changes to apply. This type of task involves boilerplate code, making it suitable for AI delegation.
My view on AI for coding [13:56]
AI will be the primary way to write code in the future. The focus of developers will shift from typing code to solving high-level problems. It's important to actively use AI to learn new coding concepts to avoid being left behind. Junie is available as a GitHub integration, allowing you to assign issues and delegate tasks to it. Junie will solve these asynchronously and create a pull request for review, giving developers control over the final changes.