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AI Developer Tools

AI coding tools have moved from novelty to essential infrastructure. The question is no longer whether to use them, but which ones fit which tasks — and how to use them without accumulating bad habits.

The landscape breaks into three tiers, each with a different scope and mental model:

Three-Tier Model

Tier 1 — Code Completion ( GitHub Copilot)

Inline suggestions as you type. The AI sees your current file and nearby context, predicts your next line or block, and you accept or dismiss. Fast, low-friction, always on.

Tier 2 — Agentic Coding ( Claude Code)

Reads your entire codebase, edits files, runs shell commands, and works autonomously toward a goal you describe. Operates over minutes, not milliseconds. Appropriate for tasks that span multiple files or require iterative refinement.

Tier 3 — Extensible Protocol ( MCP)

The Model Context Protocol connects any tool — databases, APIs, file systems, services — to any AI host using a standard interface. Enables AI tools to pull in live context from your actual environment rather than relying solely on training data.

What's in This Section

  • GitHub Copilot

    What Copilot is, how to use it effectively in VS Code, built-in slash commands, and where it falls short.

    Beginner — Intermediate

    GitHub Copilot

  • Copilot CLI & Extensions

    Using Copilot in the terminal, and building Skillset or Agent extensions to connect Copilot to your own tools and services.

    Intermediate — Advanced

    Copilot CLI & Extensions

  • Claude Code

    Anthropic's agentic coding CLI — how it works, what it can do autonomously, and how to use it without losing track of what it changed.

    Beginner — Intermediate

    Claude Code

  • Claude Code Skills & Agents

    Building custom slash commands, reusable agent skills, and multi-agent workflows on top of Claude Code.

    Intermediate — Advanced

    Skills & Agents

  • Model Context Protocol (MCP)

    How MCP works, how to connect existing MCP servers to your AI tools, and how to build your own server to expose internal tools.

    Advanced

    MCP

Next Steps

  • GitHub Copilot — start here if you're new to AI coding tools
  • Claude Code — start here if you want agentic, autonomous coding assistance
  • Model Context Protocol — start here if you want to connect AI tools to your internal systems