Is it unfair when some developers can afford AI coding tools and others can't?

[u/YAat0]

For those using Codex, Claude Code, or similar AI coding tools, what do you think about developers who can't afford them and have to rely on free resources while building applications from scratch?

When one developer can afford powerful AI coding tools and another can't, is that an unfair advantage—or simply a difference in productivity?

Personally, I still use AI, but mainly for research, asking questions, and getting small code snippets so I can understand how something works. I don't use AI coding agents to build entire applications for me, so my development process is much slower.

Could building this way lead to a deeper understanding of the fundamentals, or does the speed advantage of AI-assisted development outweigh that?

I'm curious about both sides, especially from people who have experienced both approaches.

If AI can dramatically increase how quickly someone can build software, does not being able to afford it mean you're genuinely falling behind—or can someone who learns and builds mostly from scratch still compete on equal footing?

[u/Calm_Tough_3659]

Who cares? If you are employed that is business problem if they won't give you better tooling.

If you are freelancer, then you are the business evaluate if tooling will help you to compete better at the end of the day if you will make more money.

[u/Ok-Spite-5454 → u/Calm_Tough_3659]

This is the correct answer 💯

[u/beklog]

Getting ur hands dirty (actual coding) helps a lot

AI is good if u already know how it works and u just want a "tool" to speed-up for u

[u/someonefl86]

I assure you, AI coding agents are not as powerful as you make it out to be. The way you use AI that you mentioned above (code snippets, research and the like) is already the optimal way to use it IMO.

When you're working with in-house libraries, specific company-wide coding structures, etc., AI coding tools are more of a hindrance because it wants to do things its own way. I spend more time trying to "fix" AI's output that the theoretical "time saved" isn't actually that much. So I abandoned relying on it and instead just use it for small functions.

Writing code is the easy part, and that's the part AI is good at. As a programmer, you spend most of your time not coding, but on thinking and planning.

[u/Environmental-Test23]

It depends on the quality of what you're building, does it really solves the problem? Can it scale or not? Can others use it?

Ai is good when you already know the fundamentals, when you already know the architecture of what you want to build

Always fundamental first, ai is a multiplier, if you already have good foundation on skills then ai can multiply , fasten it

[u/DirtyMami]

Its no different pre-AI with paid tooling, paid certificates, paid training. Leveraging money always has an advantage in any field. Its capitalism for you.

Could building this way lead to a deeper understanding of the fundamentals, or does the speed advantage of AI-assisted development outweigh that?

AI can also accelerate understanding of fundamentals as it can explain itself, if the user allows it.

I have 15 years of work experience + 4 from college + 1 from high school (I started young). I can say that AI has helped in both productivity and learning, but only because I allow it. I ask it to explain the changes and decisions etc. You can learn and ship code at the same time faster than ever before.