Why I Love Developing AI

A Journey of Discovery and Innovation

A Love Affair with AI Development

Throughout my long and varied working career, I have worked with many programming languages, from Basic, Visual Basic, Perl, PHP, DroidScript, and JavaScript. Alongside coding, I have built websites, customized WordPress, and developed bespoke systems.

But nothing has captivated me quite like AI development.

The Pre-COVID Coding Landscape

Before COVID, I had been working primarily with PHP, using Laravel as the backend framework and Vue.js for the frontend. While both were excellent tools, they consumed significant resources. Running Laravel locally made my machine’s fans spin like jet engines. Vue.js, with its abundant plugins and flexibility, also introduced a heavy footprint. Both came with steep learning curves that required extensive understanding of their internal structures to avoid unnecessary code clutter.

Then COVID happened.

The Unexpected Detour: Learning Node.js & MongoDB

During the pandemic, I was furloughed, and my employer decided to transition from Laravel to a Node.js and MongoDB-based setup. While I had extensive experience with JavaScript, I had never worked with Node or MongoDB—my database experience had always been with MySQL.

With no alternative, I set out to master a new tech stack.

Embracing Change: The Challenges of a New Tech Stack

I have never considered myself a natural programmer. It took hundreds of hours of self-learning before I grasped even the basics. Books that promised to turn me into a coding guru in 24 hours found themselves hurled against the wall in frustration. Impostor syndrome became my constant companion.

But I persevered. My best learning method has always been through hands-on projects, so I built a car rental website to practice Node.js and MongoDB. The frustrations were many:

• Understanding Express routing

• Learning middleware configurations

• Figuring out MongoDB queries and indexing

• Configuring NGINX as a reverse proxy

• Grasping JavaScript’s asynchronous nature and module imports

Despite these struggles, I started to appreciate Node.js’s efficiency. Unlike Laravel, my system ran silently—no fans working overtime, no excessive lag. MongoDB’s flexibility and scalability won me over. I had found a new favorite stack.

The COVID Fallout: Reinventing Myself

After a year on furlough, I was eager to return to work, but economic realities led to my redundancy.

With over a decade of PHP experience, I was now a Node.js junior and out of sync with Laravel. Worse still, my age worked against me. Recruiters would express enthusiasm until they discovered I was over 55—then silence. I applied for over 100 positions, even offering to work at junior-level salaries, but nothing materialized.

Instead of despairing, I pivoted.

A Bold Gamble: From Software to Dementia Care

To fund my transition into self-employment, I took a right turn into dementia care. The contrast between programming and care work was stark, but surprisingly complementary. Caring helped me maintain a balanced lifestyle, gave me fresh insights into human-centered design, and reinforced the value of simplicity in technology.

In my free time, I continued learning Node.js, abandoning projects that didn’t spark joy and refining my skills with every iteration.

The AI Revelation: Discovering AI’s True Potential

I stumbled upon AI by chance. I tried ChatGPT and was blown away by its ability to refine my writing and generate complex code snippets. AI’s potential in content creation, coding assistance, SEO, and graphics became apparent.

Inspired, I decided to build my own lightweight AI-powered CMS using Node.js, JavaScript, Bootstrap 5, and Mongoose. AI assisted with:

• Writing and optimizing code

• Generating structured articles

• Enhancing SEO and keyword strategies

• Creating AI-driven automation

The experience was exhilarating. AI had become my coding partner, mentor, and assistant all in one.

Why AI and Node.js Make the Perfect Pair

One of the most refreshing aspects of working with AI and Node.js is their seamless integration. JavaScript is universal, so frontend and backend development can share the same logic, reducing redundancy and improving efficiency. MongoDB’s flexibility makes handling dynamic AI-driven data structures effortless.

Lessons from the Journey

Looking back, the past few years have been a rollercoaster. From redundancy and career pivots to discovering AI’s transformative potential, the experience has reinforced key lessons:

1. Adaptability is key. Tech evolves, and embracing change keeps you relevant.

2. Projects, not just tutorials, drive real learning. Build something meaningful.

3. AI isn’t replacing developers—it’s empowering them. Used wisely, AI is an enhancement, not a threat.

4. Simplicity is power. The best solutions are often the simplest ones.

The Future: AI, Innovation, and Continuous Learning

AI is reshaping industries, and while it comes with challenges, it offers immense opportunities. My goal now is to help businesses implement AI effectively, simplifying integration and maximizing its benefits.

For those starting their programming journey: don’t fear AI—embrace it. Understanding how AI works, how to integrate it into applications, and how to leverage its capabilities will set you apart in the job market.

AI is here to stay, and so am I.

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