Developers' Lived Experiences of AI-Assisted Coding Tools: A Thematic Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64060/IJPSSDV2i31Keywords:
AI-assisted coding, Software developers, Thematic analysis, Lived experience, Professional identityAbstract
Although AI coding assistants have become a part of daily software development, few qualitative studies have explored the developers' interpretation of AI coding assistants. The study aimed to delve into the developers' lived experiences with the use of AI coding tools from an interpretivist, phenomenological perspective. 15 professional developers were recruited using purposive sampling, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with them, which were then analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Six themes were developed: productivity and flow, trust and verification, skill erosion and learning, shifting professional identity, ethics and accountability, and organizational pressure. While developers appreciated the swiftness of the AI-generated suggestions, they also noted a growing need to review the code that was generated, concerns about its impact on their coding abilities, and a gradual movement away from coding towards verification. The results indicate that trust, identity, and organizational expectations play as much a role in shaping adoption as technical performance. Consequences for development teams, computer educators, and AI coding tool designers are provided.
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