In a word: No. Quite the contrary. New learners are well positioned to thrive as junior developers because they\u2019re coming into the workforce already savvy with AI tools, which is just what companies need to adapt to the changing ways software is being developed.<\/p>\n
Our CEO Thomas Domke<\/a> says:<\/p>\n We\u2019re entering an era where interns and junior developers are showing up already fluent in the best tools for AI code-gen on the market. Why? They vibe with AI. They build with it. Fresh talent \u27a1 better ideas \u27a1 the best tools. :robot_face:<\/p>\n Thanks @GergelyOrosz<\/a> for the story on how we\u2019re\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/Sj6KAbq7dz<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Thomas Dohmke (@ashtom) May 27, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n Hear more from Thomas on The Pragmatic Engineer podcast ><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n So what does that mean for you? According to Miles Berry<\/a>, professor of computing education at the University of Roehampton, today\u2019s learners must develop the skills to work with AI rather than worry about being replaced by it. As a junior developer, you need to think critically about the code your AI tool gives you<\/a>, stay curious when things feel unfamiliar, and collaborate with AI itself in addition to senior team members.\u00a0<\/p>\n As Berry puts it:<\/p>\n \u201cCreativity and curiosity are at the heart of what sets us apart from machines.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n With that in mind, here are five ways to stand out as a junior developer in the AI era:<\/p>\n 1. Use AI to learn faster, not just code faster\u00a0<\/p>\n Most developers use GitHub Copilot<\/a> for autocomplete. But if you\u2019re just starting out, you can turn it into something more powerful: a coding coach.<\/p>\n Get Copilot to tutor you<\/p>\n You can set personal instructions so Copilot guides you through concepts instead of handing you full solutions. Here\u2019s how:\u00a0<\/p>\n In VS Code, open the Command Palette and run:<\/p>\n > Chat: New Instructions File<\/p>\n Then paste this into the new file:<\/p>\n — This will apply your tutoring instructions to any file you work on. You can manage or update your instructions anytime from the Chat > Instructions view.<\/p>\n Ask Copilot questions<\/p>\n Open Copilot Chat in VS Code and treat it like your personal coach. Ask it to explain unfamiliar concepts, walk through debugging steps, or break down tricky syntax. You can also prompt it to compare different approaches (\u201cShould I use a for loop or map here?\u201d), explain error messages, or help you write test cases to validate your logic. Every prompt is a learning opportunity and the more specific your question, the better Copilot can guide you.<\/p>\n Practice problem solving without autocomplete\u00a0<\/p>\n When you\u2019re learning to code, it can be tempting to rely on autocomplete suggestions. But turning off inline completions \u2014 at least temporarily \u2014 can help strengthen your problem-solving and critical thinking skills. You\u2019ll still have access to Copilot Chat, so you can ask questions and get help without seeing full solutions too early.<\/p>\n Just keep in mind: This approach slows things down by design. It\u2019s ideal when you\u2019re learning new concepts, not when you\u2019re under time pressure to build or ship something.<\/p>\n To disable Copilot code completion for a project (while keeping chat on), create a folder called .vscode in the root of your project, and add a file named settings.json with this content:<\/p>\n { This setting disables completions in your current workspace, giving you space to think through solutions before asking Copilot for help.<\/p>\n Read our full guide on how to use Copilot as a tutor ><\/a><\/p>\n 2. Build public projects that showcase your skills (and your AI savvy)<\/p>\n In today\u2019s AI-powered world, highlighting your AI skills can help you stand out to employers. Your side projects are your portfolio and GitHub gives you the tools to sharpen your skills, collaborate, and showcase your work. Here\u2019s how to get started:\u00a0In VS Code, open Copilot Chat and type:<\/p>\n \/new<\/p>\n Copilot can scaffold a new project inside your editor to help you get started. Once it\u2019s scaffolded, ask Copilot:<\/p>\n \u201cAdd the MIT license to this project and publish it as a public project on GitHub.\u201d<\/p>\n Open a command line in VS Code and send the following prompt to manually push:<\/p>\n git init && git add . && git commit -m “Initial commit” && git push<\/p>\n Or create a new repo using the GitHub web interface and upload your files.<\/p>\n From there, you can:<\/p>\n Track progress with issues, commits, and project boards.<\/p>\n Document your journey and milestones in the README.<\/p>\n Iterate and improve with feedback and AI assistance.<\/p>\n Read our full guide on prompting Copilot to create and publish new projects<\/a> and start building your public portfolio >\u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, AI is changing the game, but strong fundamentals still win it. If you\u2019re aiming to level up from student to junior dev, these core workflows are your launchpad:<\/p>\n Automate with GitHub Actions. Automating builds and deployments is a best practice for all developers. Use GitHub Actions<\/a> to build, test, and deploy your projects automatically.<\/p>\n Contribute to open source. Join the global developer community by contributing to open source<\/a>. It\u2019s one of the best ways to learn new skills, grow your resume, and build real-world experience.<\/p>\n Collaborate through pull requests. Coding is a team sport. Practice the same pull request workflows<\/a> used by professional teams: Review others\u2019 code, discuss feedback, and merge with confidence.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udca1 What if something breaks?<\/p>\n When you\u2019re learning GitHub workflows, you\u2019ll likely run into a few hiccups: YAML syntax errors, permission issues, or failed builds in GitHub Actions. Don\u2019t worry, that\u2019s normal.<\/p>\n Copilot Chat can help you troubleshoot by:<\/p>\n Explaining cryptic error logs.<\/p>\n Debugging YAML indentation or formatting.<\/p>\n Walking through how to configure auth, secrets, or CI\/CD steps.<\/p>\n If you get stuck, check out GitHub\u2019s official troubleshooting guide<\/a>, YAML syntax docs<\/a>, or ask for help in the GitHub Actions Discussions forum<\/a>.<\/p>\n Read our full guide on understanding GitHub workflows ><\/a><\/p>\n 4. Sharpen your expertise by reviewing code<\/p>\n One of the fastest ways to grow as a developer is to learn from the reviews given by your peers. Every pull request is a chance to get feedback \u2014 not just on your code, but on how you think, communicate, and collaborate.<\/p>\n GitHub staff engineer Sarah Vessels<\/a> has reviewed over 7,000 pull requests. She advises not to be afraid to ask questions during code reviews. If you\u2019re unsure why a suggestion was made, speak up. If something isn\u2019t obvious, clarify. Code review is a conversation, not a test.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to make the most of it:<\/p>\n Ask questions. Use comments to understand decisions or explore alternate approaches. It shows curiosity and builds shared knowledge.<\/p>\n Look for patterns. Repeated suggestions often point to best practices you can internalize and reuse.<\/p>\n Take notes. Keep track of feedback you\u2019ve received and how you\u2019ve addressed it, which is great for personal growth and future reference.<\/p>\n Be gracious. Say thank you, follow up when you make changes, and acknowledge when a comment helped you see something differently.<\/p>\n Read our full guide on code review best practices and learn how to grow from every review ><\/a><\/p>\n 5. Debug smarter and faster with AI<\/p>\n Debugging is one of the most time-consuming parts of software development. But with GitHub Copilot, you don\u2019t have to do it alone.<\/p>\n Use Copilot Chat to:<\/p>\n Ask \u201cWhy is this function throwing an error?\u201d and get real-time explanations.<\/p>\n Use \/fix to highlight code and generate a potential fix.<\/p>\n Run \/tests to create test cases and verify your logic.<\/p>\n Try \/explain on cryptic errors to understand the root cause.<\/p>\n You can even combine commands for deeper debugging \u2014 for example, use \/explain to understand the problem, then \/fix to generate a solution, and \/doc to document it for your team.<\/p>\n Read our full guide on how to debug code with Copilot ><\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcda More resources to help you grow<\/p>\n GitHub Skills<\/a>: Learn by doing with interactive coding exercises and guided GitHub workflows.<\/p>\n GitHub Education<\/a>: Access free tools, training, and events to support your developer journey.<\/p>\n GitHub Copilot documentation<\/a>: Explore how to get the most out of Copilot, including setup, prompting tips, and advanced features.<\/p>\n The bottom line<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re writing your first pull request or building your fifth side project, GitHub is the place to sharpen your skills, collaborate in the open, and build a portfolio that gets you hired.<\/p>\n AI may be reshaping the software world, but, with the right tools and mindset, junior developers can thrive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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