Why AI Alone Can’t Mentor Junior Devs
kbartsch

kbartsch @mor3

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May 6, 2025

Why AI Alone Can’t Mentor Junior Devs

Publish Date: May 6
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Hello fellow coders, let’s dive into a different but broad world of software development, where junior devs are like the lone wolves adventurers armed with a map, a compass, and, lately, a shiny new AI companion. While it’s tempting to let the bots take the reins, there’s a danger in relying solely on artificial intelligence to guide our coding prodigies. Please note that this article is my opinion and sight on that topic.

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Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Picture this: You hand over the responsibility of training junior devs to an AI, hoping for a seamless journey through the valleys of variables and the peaks of polymorphism. However, as any seasoned developer knows, the real coding expedition is more like a complex RPG than a stroll through a well-tailored tutorial and documentations.

if we are looking for example at the code review, a crucial rite of passage for any developer from junior to seniors. AI tools can swiftly identify syntax errors, point out style violations, and even suggest potential optimizations. But, my dear fellow devs, let’s not underestimate the importance of human experience in the realm of software craftsmanship. Now, don’t get me wrong, AI has come a long way now and can provide valuable insights but for now its still missing the human touch and knowledge of the surrounding elements.

Imagine you’re facing a tricky bug, a real head-scratcher that has you contemplating a career change to goat herding. Here’s where the seasoned senior devs swoop in, capes flapping in the debugging breeze, armed with their mighty stack traces and knowledge of legacy code. Can AI truly grasp the intricacies of your project’s unique architecture and business logic? Can it identify future problems, risks or bugs related to architectural decision. At least not when this article was written but in the future this might be the case.

Now, consider the training process. AI , with its vast knowledge base, can provide theoretical insights, but it lacks the personal touch of a mentorship forged through years of battles fought in the trenches of version control conflicts and merge hell. A real mentor in form of a senior developer can provide this personal touch by showing insights in problems, experienced mistakes and motivate juniors to reach thier business goals.

Conclusion: AI can be a powerful ally, but it should complement, not replace, the human touch. After all, the best code is crafted with a dash of humanity, a sprinkle of AI magic, and a generous helping of experience by colleagues. Also keep in mind that AI should not and cannot replace the unique work environment atmosphere of individuals and adds value to the company a junior is working in.

Hope you enjoyed my little articel! Feel free to like and share!

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