Why Junior Developers Still Matter

AI is rewriting the rules of software development, and if you are just starting your career, it is natural to wonder whether you are training for a job that is about to evaporate. Industry projections don't exactly ease that worry: a ServiceNow and Pearson study from 2023 estimated that by 2027, nearly 26% of tasks currently performed by junior application developers will be augmented or fully automated.

The reality, though, is more encouraging. The same AI wave that is automating routine tasks is also creating demand for developers who are native to AI tooling. New entrants to the field are arriving with fluency in AI-assisted development, and that is precisely the skill set companies need as they rethink their engineering workflows.

We’re 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 ➡ better ideas ➡ the best tools.

— Thomas Dohmke, CEO of GitHub

According to Miles Berry, professor of computing education at the University of Roehampton, the key is to learn to work with AI rather than worrying about being replaced by it. That means thinking critically about AI-generated code, staying curious when things feel unfamiliar, and treating AI as a collaborator alongside your human teammates.

Turn AI Into a Personal Tutor

Most developers reach for tools like GitHub Copilot to speed up autocomplete. As a junior developer, you can get far more value by turning it into a teaching assistant.

In VS Code, you can set personal instructions so Copilot explains concepts instead of handing you finished solutions. Open the Command Palette and run the command to configure Copilot instructions, then paste your tutoring preferences into the new file that opens. From that point on, Copilot will apply those instructions across your files, and you can adjust them anytime from the Chat > Instructions view.

When you hit something unfamiliar, open Copilot Chat and ask it to explain the concept, walk you through debugging steps, or break down tricky syntax. Ask it to compare approaches — for loops versus map, for example — or to help you write test cases that validate your logic. The more specific your question, the better the guidance.

You should also practice solving problems without autocomplete. Temporarily disabling inline completions — while keeping chat available — forces you to think through solutions before seeing an answer. It is slower by design, so reserve it for learning sessions rather than shipping deadlines. To do this, create a .vscode folder in your project root and add a settings.json file that disables completions for that workspace only.

Build a Public Portfolio That Proves AI Savvy

Side projects are the clearest signal you can send to employers. In an AI-driven hiring market, projects that demonstrate fluent use of AI tools are especially compelling.

You can ask Copilot Chat to scaffold a new project inside VS Code, then prompt it to add an MIT license and publish the repository publicly on GitHub. If you prefer working from the command line, push the project manually with standard Git commands, or create the repository through the GitHub web interface and upload files from there.

Once the project is live:

  • Track progress with issues, commits, and project boards.
  • Document milestones and decisions in the README.
  • Iterate on feedback, using AI assistance where it helps.

Master the Fundamentals That AI Can't Replace

AI tooling is valuable, but strong fundamentals carry the day. The core workflows of professional development are also the fastest route from student to working engineer.

  • Automate with GitHub Actions. Set up workflows that build, test, and deploy your projects automatically — this is standard practice in professional teams.
  • Contribute to open source. Contributing to existing projects builds real-world experience and expands your network faster than isolated learning.
  • Collaborate through pull requests. Review others' code, discuss feedback, and merge with confidence. Coding is a team sport, and the pull request is where teamwork happens.

Accelerate Growth Through Code Review

Code review is one of the fastest ways to level up. Every pull request is a chance to absorb feedback on your code and on how you communicate and collaborate. GitHub staff engineer Sarah Vessels, who has reviewed over 7,000 pull requests, emphasizes that asking questions during review is not just acceptable — it is expected. Code review is a conversation, not a test.

To get the most out of reviews:

  • Ask questions. If a suggestion isn't clear, comment on it. Exploring alternate approaches shows curiosity and builds shared knowledge.
  • Look for patterns. Repeated suggestions usually point to best practices worth internalizing.
  • Take notes. Track the feedback you receive and how you address it — useful for growth and for future reference.
  • Be gracious. Thank reviewers, follow up when you make changes, and acknowledge when feedback shifted your perspective.

Debug More Effectively With AI

Debugging consumes a disproportionate share of development time. AI can compress that cycle significantly if you know the right commands.

Use Copilot Chat to:

  • Ask why a function is throwing an error and get an explanation in real time.
  • Run /fix on highlighted code to generate a potential solution.
  • Use /tests to build test cases that verify your logic.
  • Try /explain on cryptic error messages to surface the root cause.

You can also chain commands for deeper debugging — start with /explain to understand the problem, then /fix to resolve it, and finish with /doc to document the solution for your team.

The Path Forward

AI is not making junior developers obsolete — it is changing what they need to know. The developers who will succeed are the ones who treat AI as a collaborator, sharpen traditional fundamentals, and build visible evidence of their skills. With that combination, entry-level developers are not a shrinking workforce. They are an early adopter advantage.