Software Engineer's Quickstart Guide to AI Tools
From "I want to use AI tools" to "I can wield AI tools effectively for real software engineering problems" in under 2 hours.
Who This Guide Is For
This quickstart guide is for software engineers who:
- Have heard about AI coding tools but haven't fully adopted them yet, OR
- Have tried tools like ChatGPT or Copilot but want to level up systematically
You don't need to be an AI expert. You just need to nail the basics of AI-augmented software engineering.
What You'll Learn
By the end of this guide, you'll be able to:
- Understand the spectrum from "vibe coding" to "augmented engineering" and choose the right approach for each situation
- Master context engineering - the single most important skill for getting good results from AI tools
- Use Cursor effectively - including Agent mode, custom rules, and parallel agents
- Know when to use which tool - Cursor vs Claude Code vs ChatGPT
- Apply the 10 rules for productive AI-assisted development
How to Use This Guide
Read it once, reference it often.
- Chapters 1-2 are foundational - read these carefully
- Chapters 3-4 are tool-specific - focus on the tools you'll use most
- Chapter 6 ties it all together with practical rules
- Appendices are designed for quick reference while you work
Suggested approach:
- Read through once (~90 minutes)
- Set up your tools (Cursor, rules, etc.)
- Build something real
- Return to the appendices and checklists as needed
Let's get started.