Why Learning Code Testing and Debugging Still Matters in the Age of AI
Table of Content
Let me tell you a little story. A few months ago, my buddy Mo—yes, that Mo with the "development kitchen" startup everyone keeps talking about—hit me up out of the blue. His team had just shipped a shiny new feature to their app, something they'd been hyping on social media for weeks. The problem? It was broken. Like, really broken. Orders weren’t processing correctly, users were getting duplicate emails, and half the buttons didn’t even work. Chaos.
I hopped on a call with him, rolled up my sleeves, and started digging into the codebase. Turns out, no one had properly tested the damn thing before pushing it live. Sure, they’d used some fancy AI tools to auto-generate parts of the code (because apparently that’s what all the cool kids are doing these days), but nobody bothered to check if it actually worked in real-world scenarios.
By the time I helped them debug and fix everything, they’d lost a ton of customers and trust. Ouch.
This isn’t just Mo’s story—it’s happening everywhere. And it’s why I’m here today to talk about why learning code testing and debugging is still absolutely crucial, even in this shiny new age of AI-powered development.
Hazem Abbas
The Problem with Junior Developers and Over-Reliance on AI
Look, don’t get me wrong—AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, or Tabnine are incredible. They save time, help generate boilerplate code, and can even suggest solutions to tricky problems. But there’s a catch: these tools aren’t perfect. They make assumptions, skip edge cases, and sometimes flat-out write buggy code.
Junior developers, especially, fall into the trap of thinking, “If the AI wrote it, it must be good.” Spoiler alert: it’s not always good. In fact, I’ve seen junior devs blindly copy-paste AI-generated code without understanding how it works or whether it fits their specific use case. Then, when things inevitably break, they’re stuck scratching their heads because they skipped the most important step: testing and debugging.
Hazem Abbas
Why Code Testing Is Non-Negotiable
Here’s the hard truth: writing code is only half the job. The other half is making sure your code actually does what it’s supposed to do. Here’s why testing and debugging are non-negotiable skills every developer needs:
1. Bugs Happen—Even to the Best of Us
No matter how experienced you are, bugs will creep into your code. Whether it’s a typo, a logic error, or an unforeseen edge case, mistakes happen. Testing helps you catch those issues early before they spiral out of control.
Remember Mo’s app disaster? If his team had run basic unit tests or done end-to-end testing, they could have caught the order-processing bug before it hit production. Instead, they learned the hard way—and so did their users.
2. Users Expect Reliability
In today’s world, people expect apps to just work. If your app crashes, glitches, or behaves weirdly, users won’t stick around. They’ll bounce faster than you can say “404 error.” Proper testing ensures your app is stable, reliable, and ready for prime time.
3. Saves Time (and Money) Down the Road
Fixing bugs after deployment is exponentially more expensive than catching them during development. Think about it: rolling back updates, issuing refunds, dealing with angry customers—it’s a nightmare. Investing time in thorough testing upfront saves you from costly headaches later.
4. Builds Confidence in Your Code
When you rigorously test your code, you know it works. You can push updates with confidence, knowing you’ve covered your bases. That peace of mind is priceless, especially when deadlines are tight and pressure is high.
Hazem Abbas
A Cool Story About My Friend Mo’s Dev Kitchen
Back to Mo’s story for a moment. After the initial fiasco, we sat down and revamped his entire testing process. We introduced automated unit tests using Jest, set up integration tests with Cypress, and implemented continuous integration pipelines to catch issues before they went live. Slowly but surely, his team started seeing results.
One day, Mo called me up, practically giddy. “Dude,” he said, “we just caught a critical bug in staging thanks to those tests you helped us write. Saved us thousands!” That moment was worth every late-night debugging session.
But here’s the kicker: Mo’s senior developers got on board quickly, but his junior devs struggled. They were great at cranking out code with AI assistance, but when it came to testing? Not so much. So we spent extra time mentoring them, teaching them how to think critically about edge cases, write meaningful tests, and approach debugging methodically. Now, his whole team is stronger for it.
Hazem Abbas
Recommendations for Mastering Testing and Debugging
Alright, enough preaching. Let’s talk action. Here are some practical tips to level up your testing and debugging game:
1. Start Small
If you’re new to testing, start with simple unit tests. Write tests for individual functions or components to ensure they behave as expected. Once you’re comfortable, move on to integration and end-to-end tests.
2. Use the Right Tools
There are tons of amazing tools out there to streamline testing:
- Jest: Great for JavaScript/TypeScript projects.
- Cypress: Perfect for browser-based testing.
- Postman: Ideal for API testing.
- Sentry: Helps track errors in production.
3. Pair Programming + Code Reviews
Pair programming and peer reviews are goldmines for catching bugs early. Another set of eyes can spot issues you might miss, especially if you’re relying heavily on AI-generated code.
4. Embrace Debugging Tools
Modern IDEs like VSCode come packed with powerful debugging tools. Learn how to use breakpoints, inspect variables, and step through your code. It’ll make your life infinitely easier.
5. Document Everything
Keep a record of common bugs and how you fixed them. This creates a knowledge base for future reference and helps onboard new team members.
Why Developers Can’t Afford to Ignore Testing in the Age of AI
AI is awesome, but it’s not infallible. It doesn’t understand your business logic, your user base, or the quirks of your specific project. That’s where you come in. As developers, our job is to bridge the gap between what AI generates and what actually works in the real world.
Testing and debugging force you to slow down and think critically about your code. They teach you to anticipate problems, handle edge cases, and build robust systems. These skills are timeless—they’ll never go out of style, no matter how advanced AI gets.
Hazem Abbas
Hazem Abbas
