# AI Programming Tools Guide

> Choose the AI programming tool that's right for you

Hello, I'm Yupi, a former Tencent full-stack developer and now an [AI programming content creator](https://space.bilibili.com/12890453) with 2 million followers across platforms. I'm also the creator of over 10 self-developed products including [AI Navigation](https://ai.codefather.cn) and [Programming Navigation](https://www.codefather.cn).

If you've completed the [Essential Basics] section and successfully built your first web application, congratulations! You've already experienced the magic of Vibe Coding!

But you might have some questions:

- The web AI generator is nice, but I heard Cursor is more powerful. Which one should I use?
- What's the difference between AI models like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini that I see mentioned online?
- Some tools are free while others require payment. How should I choose?

Don't worry - these confusions are completely normal. With dozens or even hundreds of AI programming tools on the market, even professional programmers can feel overwhelmed.

This section is specifically designed to address these questions.

## 1. Why Understand Programming Tools?

In the traditional programming era, tool selection wasn't that crucial. Whether you used VS Code or Sublime Text, the code you wrote would be the same.

But in the Vibe Coding era, **choosing the right tool can potentially increase your development efficiency by 10 times!**

Why is that?

Because different AI programming tools:

1. Vary greatly in capability: Some can only generate simple code, while others can help you build entire projects
2. Serve different scenarios: Some are better for prototyping, others for production, and some for learning
3. Have significant cost differences: Some are completely free, while others cost hundreds per month
4. Differ in learning curve: Some are ready to use immediately, while others require some foundational knowledge

Choosing the right tool means working smarter; choosing the wrong one might make you think "Vibe Coding isn't all that special."

## 2. Three Major Types of AI Programming Tools

Before diving into specific tools, let's look at the basic categories of AI programming tools. Based on usage and complexity, I've divided them into three main types:

![](https://pic.yupi.icu/1/toolstype%E5%A4%A7.jpeg)

### No-Code Platforms

Ready to use directly in your browser - no software installation or coding knowledge required. Perfect for complete beginners or those wanting to quickly create prototypes.

Representative tools: Bolt.new, Lovable, Miaoda

Advantages: Quick start, WYSIWYG, automatic deployment

Limitations: Relatively simple functionality, may struggle with complex projects

![](https://pic.yupi.icu/1/image-20260106100544197.png)

### AI Code Editors

Require download and installation. The interface resembles traditional code editors but comes with powerful built-in AI assistants. Suitable for those with some foundation who want to deeply learn Vibe Coding or work on complex projects.

Representative tools: Cursor, Windsurf, Antigravity, Augment Code

Advantages: Powerful features, high flexibility, suitable for large projects

Limitations: Requires some learning curve, not very beginner-friendly

![](https://pic.yupi.icu/1/image-20260106100559696.png)

### Command Line Tools

Interact with AI through terminal commands. Ideal for developers with programming experience or command line enthusiasts.

Representative tools: Claude Code, Gemini CLI

Advantages: Extremely efficient, highly automated, cost-effective

Limitations: Requires technical foundation, not recommended for beginners

![](https://pic.yupi.icu/1/image-20260106100958506.png)

## 3. What Will This Section Cover?

In this section, I'll provide a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of AI programming tools.

### Main Content (Recommended to follow in order)

1) AI Model Selection Guide  
First introduces mainstream AI models (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.), helping you understand their differences and selection criteria. This is the foundation for using all AI tools.

2) No-Code Development Tools  
Detailed explanations of various AI no-code platforms and AI application development platforms, including tools for quickly generating websites, platforms for building AI applications, and AI agent platforms capable of autonomously executing complex tasks.

3) Professional Development Tools  
In-depth introduction to AI code editors, AI command line tools, AI IDE plugins and other professional development tools to help you find the development approach that best suits you.

4) Auxiliary Toolset  
Shares practical auxiliary tools like version management, deployment hosting, MCP services, Agent Skills, and standardized development tools, along with my recommended tool combinations and practical experience.

5) More AI Tool Recommendations  
Provides specific tool combination suggestions and practical experience based on different scenarios and needs.

### Side Content (Optional Learning)

The tool practice section mainly explains usage methods and practical cases of specific tools, which can be studied selectively as needed.

- **Spec-Driven Development**: Detailed tutorials on Spec-kit and OpenSpec
- **AI Skill Libraries**: Installation and advanced usage of Agent Skills and Superpowers
- **Command Line Tool Testing**: Practical evaluations of tools like OpenCode, Gemini CLI, TRAE SOLO
- **AI Application Platforms**: Practical tutorials on no-code AI application development platforms like Dify

## 4. How to Use This Section?

You don't need to study all articles in this section - choose based on your situation:

- If you're a complete beginner: Start with the "AI Model Selection Guide", then focus on "No-Code Platforms" for quick onboarding.
- If you want deeper learning: Jump directly to "AI Code Editors" to learn Cursor's usage.
- If you have programming experience: Check out "Command Line Tools" to try more efficient development approaches.
- If you're unsure what to choose: Go straight to "My Tool Combination Recommendations" where I provide specific suggestions for different scenarios.
- If you want in-depth knowledge of a particular tool: Read the corresponding supplementary articles and practical cases.

## 5. What Will You Gain From This Section?

After studying this section, you'll be able to:

- Understand the characteristics and differences of various AI programming tools
- Select appropriate tools based on your needs
- Master usage methods and techniques of multiple mainstream tools
- Learn how to combine multiple tools to improve efficiency
- Build your own toolbox and development workflow
- Master essential skills like version management and project deployment

Choosing the right tools can truly make your development efficiency soar! 🛫

## Final Words

I know facing so many tools might feel overwhelming.

Remember what I said in the [Essential Basics] section? Tools are just means - what matters is what you want to achieve.

So don't obsess over "which tool is best", but rather think "which tool best fits my current needs".

In this section, I'll use the most down-to-earth approach to help you understand these tools' relationships, enabling you to confidently select and use them.

Go forth, future Vibe Coding masters! 💪

## Recommended Resources

1) Yupi's AI Navigation Site: [Comprehensive AI resources, latest AI news, free AI tutorials](https://ai.codefather.cn)  
2) Programming Navigation Learning Circle: [Learning paths, programming tutorials, practical projects, job hunting guides, Q&A](https://www.codefather.cn)  
3) Programmer Interview Cheat Sheet: [Internship/campus/social recruitment high-frequency test points, corporate question analysis](https://www.mianshiya.com)  
4) Programmer Resume Builder: [Professional templates, rich example sentences, direct path to interviews](https://www.laoyujianli.com)  
5) 1-on-1 Mock Interviews: [Essential for internship/campus/social recruitment interviews to get offers](https://ai.mianshiya.com)