More ChatGPT Tips 3

Posted on by btunbutr
  • You can paste in documentation if you need help understanding and using it
  • For maximum learning use Google first for everything then use ChatGPT to check
  • For learning you can say “Give me 21 SQL concept questions and I’ll answer one at a time.” ChatGPT will help you with each question.
  • You can paste in code and explain what you think it does and get feedback on how correct you are.
  • In my opinion ChatGPT is wrong 20-30% of the time so you need to make sure to verify important information.

More ChatGPT Tips 2

Posted on by btunbutr

Here are a few things that have helped with building projects:

  • Brainstorm freely about every possible requirement possible and ask ChatGPT for ideas and feedback
  • Ask ChatGPT to breakdown the requirements into milestones. Milestones can include asking what a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) could look like. Even before that ChatGPT can give steps on how to go from a static site with hardcoded data to a dynamic site.
  • ChatGPT can help with commit messages
  • ChatGPT can also provide information about the pros and cons of certain technologies
  • ChatGPT can help with Rubber duck debugging
  • ChatGPT can be wrong (like 20-30%) of the time in my estimation. Sometimes it’s way better to use Google, Gemini, or search the documentation directly.

More ChatGPT Tips

Posted on by btunbutr

Here are a few tips that have helped me with ChatGPT

  • It’s quick and easy to ask ChatGPT “Create a React functional component with useState for name and address. Have a form for these fields and have an empty handleSubmit function.” It makes things faster if you already have an idea of what you need to do.
  • ChatGPT can be great for system design. You can paste in images of servers and databases and it it can give feedback and pushback.
  • You can ask for scenarios including the happy path and edge cases for functions and components and code
  • From my experience it is wrong 20-30% of the time, so you need to know what you are doing. For important things you must verify from reliable sources.
  • You can copy and paste the documentation and ask, “How do you I get this data?” instead of searching yourself.
  • A workflow that has been helpful to me is to copy and paste the solution to make sure it works. Then read each line and make sure I understand it. Then type it all out to get the muscle memory and extra learning of typing each character.

My original tips here: ChatGPT Tips

Tech Meetup Tips

Posted on by btunbutr

I have attended many tech Meetups and hosted a few as well. Here are a few of my tips for learning and having fun:

  • Remember basically everyone is nice and has a common interest in learning about tech. For some it’s a one-time interest while for others it becomes a lifelong passion. You can learn from everyone.
  • Try to join if there’s a casual drink or get together after the main event. This is where connections can be made.
  • When I have been the organizer I like to have everyone do a quick 30 second introduction so that we can all get to know each other. I also like to ask people about their goals and blockers.
  • Some events are more formal lectures, others bring your laptop and work on your own project, others are just casual coffee or drinks. Try each and see what you enjoy.
  • Purchase a beverage or food from the establishment because they are providing a great venue and space.
  • You get what you put into it. Want to learn a topic? Volunteer to give a presentation on this topic. Want to cultivate teaching or leadership skills? Offer help to someone newer to the topic, or even more knowledgeable so they can give you feedback and review the topic.
  • Have fun meeting nice people!

ChatGPT Tips

Posted on by btunbutr

Watch these great videos

Here are a few tips that have helped me

  • Paste in working code and have ChatGPT create unit tests for the code
  • Ask ChatGPT to comment or explain code I paste in i.e. code I find online but can’t understand
  • Ask for sample code. This works better if I brainstorm and/or write the code myself then check ChatGPT’s answer. I wrote code to find a nested object in an array, then I asked ChatGPT and learned how to better my code (return a boolean).
  • Ask ChatGPT to rename variables. This has been hit or miss in terms of effectiveness. But I always gain ideas from the effective and ineffective renaming. 
  • Have ChatGPT remove comments. This is simple manual work that is done easily and perfectly by ChatGPT. 
  • Converting from React class to React hooks does not work that well but gave me ideas and helped me review the old school componentDidUpdate function. 
  • This extension is a nice way of supplementing Google searches https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chatgpt-chrome-extension/cdjifpfganmhoojfclednjdnnpooaojb 
  • I like to ask ChatGPT for explanations (i.e. eli5 “explain like I am 5 years old”), examples, and sources. 

Overall I am enjoying ChatGPT for brainstorming, searching, and getting explanations. It is not perfect by any means but it is a great tool in my toolbox.