👋 Introduction
Today, with tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, writing code has become faster and easier than ever before. You can ask an AI to generate a function, build a website layout, or even explain algorithms. That’s amazing!
But here’s something that hasn’t changed:
You are still responsible for making sure your code is clean, understandable, and maintainable.
Even when AI writes the code for you, it’s your job to review it, improve it, and keep it easy to work with — especially when your project grows or gets handed over to someone else.
That’s why in this article, I want to show you 5 simple but powerful tips to write clean code — the kind of code that’s easier to maintain, easier to fix, and way more professional.
✅ Tip 1: Use Clear and Simple Names
AI might name a variable val1, but that doesn’t help anyone understand what it means.
Bad example:
let x = 25;
let y = "Oscar";Good example:
let userAge = 25;
let userName = "Oscar";📌 Why it matters:
Good names make your code easier to read — for you, your team, and even your future self.
✅ Tip 2: Keep Your Code Neat with Indentation
Clean formatting isn’t just about beauty — it shows the structure of your code.
Bad example:
if (age > 18) {
console.log("Adult");
}Good example:
if (age > 18) {
console.log("Adult");
}📌 Why it matters:
Messy code leads to bugs. Clean code helps you and your team understand what’s happening at a glance.
🛠 Pro tip: Your code editor (like VS Code) usually auto-formats code for you with just one click. Use it!
✅ Tip 3: Don’t Repeat Yourself (DRY)
AI might give you copy-pasted blocks. Your job is to spot patterns and organize them better.
Bad example:
console.log("Welcome John");
console.log("Welcome Maria");Good example:
function greet(name) {
console.log("Welcome " + name);
}
greet("John");
greet("Maria");📌 Why it matters:
Reusing code saves time, reduces errors, and makes changes easier in the future.
✅ Tip 4: Use Comments (But Only When Needed)
AI-generated code often lacks comments — or adds useless ones. You should use comments to explain why, not what.
Example:
//Greet the user with their name
function greet(name) {
console.log("Hello " + name);
}📌 Why it matters:
Comments help your teammates (or future you) quickly understand the purpose of a function or a tricky block.
🧠 Rule of thumb:
If the code is obvious, don’t comment it. If the logic is tricky, explain why it’s written that way.
✅ Tip 5: Keep It Simple (KISS)
AI might overcomplicate a solution, especially if the prompt wasn’t clear. You should simplify it.
Bad example:
function isAdult(age) {
if (age >= 18) {
return true;
}else {
return false;
}
}Good example:
function isAdult(age) {
return age >= 18;
}📌 Why it matters:
Simple code is easier to test, easier to update, and much harder to break.
🎯 Final Thoughts
AI is powerful, but clean code is still your responsibility.
You are the developer, not just the user of AI tools. It’s your job to make sure that the code you write — whether by hand or with AI — is readable, reusable, and reliable.
These 5 tips are small habits that lead to big results. Start using them now and you’ll already be ahead of many beginner developers.