Three tool types
| Type | Examples | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prompt-to-app builders | Lovable, Bolt, v0, Replit | Prototypes and non-developers | Lock-in, security gaps, hard to maintain at scale |
| In-editor assistants | Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf | Developers who want speed in their IDE | Over-trusting suggestions |
| Agentic coders | Claude Code, Codex-style agents | Multi-file changes, refactors, tests | Needs clear tasks, review and permission limits |
Tools and features change quickly; evaluate current versions yourself.
Selection criteria
- Does the code live in your own Git repository?
- Can you run tests and CI on the output?
- How are secrets and permissions handled?
- Does it support your stack?
- What are the usage limits and costs at your volume?
- Can your team review diffs easily?
A safe workflow with any tool
- Write a short spec for each task.
- Ask the tool for a plan before code.
- Make small changes in branches.
- Run tests and a linter automatically.
- Review every diff as if from a new junior developer.
- Scan for secrets and vulnerable dependencies.
- Deploy to staging first.
Where humans must stay in charge
- Architecture and data model
- Authentication and authorisation
- Payments and personal data
- Production deployment and rollback
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Frequently asked questions
Which AI coding tool is best?
There is no single best. Match the tool to your team and task, and measure results on your own code.
Can non-developers ship production apps with these tools?
They can build prototypes quickly; production needs engineering review for security, reliability and maintenance.
Can AWI Digital review AI-generated code?
Yes. See our rescue and support service.
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