ChatGPT for programmers: Quickly code and find errors with AI

In the programming world, time is a crucial factor. Every programmer knows the feeling of spending hours debugging or working on functions that simply won't work. With the introduction of AI technologies like ChatGPT, however, there is a revolutionary support that acts as a co-pilot for you in programming. In this tutorial, I will show you how to program more efficiently and find errors faster with the help of ChatGPT.

Key Learnings

• ChatGPT can help you not only identify errors in the code but also create new functions.
• Using ChatGPT reduces the time you need to spend on debugging and researching in forums.
• Clear and precise instructions to the AI lead to better results.

Step-by-Step Guide

Getting Started: Creating a Contact Form

First, let's create a contact form. Here we will use various HTML elements. We start by asking ChatGPT for a simple contact form with a dark blue heading and a hover effect when hovering over the input fields.

The input fields should be arranged one below the other, with the active field highlighted in light green. ChatGPT supports us by generating the necessary HTML code, allowing us to reach our goal with minimal effort.

After inserting the code into an online tool, we can preview the result. The hover effect is already working perfectly, giving us feedback that we are interacting with the correct field.

Processing Form Data in PHP

In the next step, we want to process the entered data in PHP. For this, we ask ChatGPT to modify the HTML code in such a way that the data entries are handled correctly when the "Submit" button is pressed.

We specify that the data is transmitted via the POST method to ensure greater security. When we fill out and submit our form, we are confirmed that the data is being processed correctly.

Protecting Against SQL Injection

As we want to create a more secure form, we ask ChatGPT to implement protection against SQL injection. The AI immediately provides us with a detailed response and recommendations on how to filter out dangerous inputs.

ChatGPT adds necessary checks to our code and provides helpful comments so that we understand what is happening there exactly. The result significantly improves the security of our form.

Debugging in the Code

Now, we want to introduce an error to demonstrate how ChatGPT supports us in debugging. We intentionally use the GET method, but we have set the form to POST.

ChatGPT immediately identifies the error and shows us what needs to be changed. This is especially helpful when you could spend a lot of time debugging. With a simple command, the AI finds the error and returns the correct code to you.

Creating Simple PHP Scripts

Another example we can request is creating a simple PHP script that outputs the current date and time. ChatGPT promptly generates the code, ensuring that the variables are clear and understandable.

We copy the generated code and paste it into our project. The result shows us how we can obtain working code with minimal effort, displaying the current time and having a user-friendly interface.

Convert Code to Other Programming Languages

Another powerful feature of ChatGPT is the ability to convert code between different programming languages. We have a Perl code that we want to convert to PHP.

ChatGPT takes care of this for us and helps us save time, as we don't have to manually translate every part of the code. The result meets our expectations and demonstrates that the conversion was successful.

Summary

In this tutorial, you have seen how helpful ChatGPT can be as an assistant in programming. From creating simple forms to evaluating user requests and troubleshooting, the possibilities seem endless. With the right instructions, you can save time and focus on the more creative aspects of programming.