Being a solo dev is like building a spaceship out of duct tape while plummeting toward Mars. You’re writing code, squashing bugs, writing docs, and Googling “why won’t this deploy” at 2 a.m.
But here’s the secret: AI isn’t just hype — it’s the pit crew, co-pilot, and mission control you didn’t know you had.
Here are 7 tools that make solo dev life feel less like survival and more like a superpower:
1. GPT-4 (ChatGPT Plus)
This isn’t just a chatbot that answers questions — it’s like having a team of 7 researchers, 3 creative writers, and a small battalion of fast, methodical developers all in your corner. Stuck on logic? It will talk you through the problem step-by-step. Need to draft clean, readable documentation? It practically writes it for you. Trying to name your app, write a landing page, or brainstorm features? GPT-4’s creative engine is on tap. Best part? It never rolls its eyes or sighs — no question is too small, no problem too weird.
2. GitHub Copilot
Imagine sitting at your desk and having someone quietly whisper the next line of code just before you realize you need it. That’s Copilot, only a little less annoying. It suggests solutions, completes functions, and sometimes shows you a smarter way than what you were about to write. But it’s not just about speed; it’s about avoiding mental fatigue. You’re still in control — Copilot is just the assistant who knows what’s in your head before you do, and always has your back. Clippy who?
3. Claude (Anthropic)
Sometimes you need more than short answers — you need an AI that can hold the whole problem in its head. Claude’s enormous context window lets you throw in entire docs, sprawling API references, or messy data, and it calmly helps you untangle it all. The days of memorizing API method references are over. Think of it as the world’s most patient whiteboard partner: it never interrupts, it doesn’t get lost, and it’s surprisingly good at making sense of chaos. If GPT-4 is your creative studio, Claude is your strategy room.
4. Replit Ghostwriter
If you’ve ever watched MASH*, you know Radar O’Reilly — the guy who hands the doctor what he needs before he asks. That’s Ghostwriter. You start coding, and before you can finish your thought, it’s handing you the next step. Whether you’re building a quick script, experimenting with a prototype, or trying to fix an error that’s driving you nuts, Ghostwriter is the quiet, unflappable sidekick that seems to read your mind and quietly gets things done while you focus on the big picture.
5. Perplexity AI
Research can be a time vortex — endless tabs, contradictory advice, and distractions everywhere. Perplexity cuts through the noise. You ask a question, and it gives you a clear, direct answer with links to the sources — no fluff, no rabbit holes. All in seconds not days. It’s like having a personal researcher who doesn’t just answer your question, but hands you the book, the diagram, and the page number where it’s explained best. When you’re racing the clock, Perplexity is your compass.
I was going to list 7… but the last two didn’t make the cut. Want me to share them anyway? Let me know.
This Friday: I’ll reveal the lesser-known “secret weapon” tools that most solo devs haven’t discovered yet — but should.
In the meantime, tell me: what AI tool has surprised you the most? Drop a comment or reply — I might feature your pick in Friday’s post!
English
Leave a Reply