Can AI Replace Developers? Insights from Building a Web App with Cursor and Claude 3.7

01 Embrace AI, Accept Its Power

Since ChatGPT’s launch in 2022, AI has become a ubiquitous tool in daily life, sparking rumors that it will replace many professions. While some view these claims with skepticism, large language models such as Claude 3.7 have already reached a competence level comparable to mid‑senior developers.

02 Demand Analysis Becomes Critical

Effective requirement analysis, task decomposition, and clear instruction become essential when working with AI "employees." By breaking complex tasks into smaller steps and feeding them to the model, developers can guide AI much like a team lead coordinates a development team.

For example, using the AI‑enabled editor Cursor, a simple command like "build a corporate website with React" generates a demo project, but it lacks the depth of a real‑world application. By iteratively refining requirements in a plain‑text editor (e.g., Notepad) and adding coding standards, the AI can gradually produce production‑grade code.

03 Integrate AI into Personal Workflow

Full‑stack engineers can incorporate AI at multiple stages: generating UI mockups, assisting with code writing, and even reading source code. The distinction between Copilot‑style assistance and pure natural‑language interaction is significant, and choosing the right mode influences productivity.

Deep integration requires developers to experience tangible efficiency gains rather than mindlessly accepting AI‑generated output.

04 Will AI Take Your Job?

Although AI is powerful, it still struggles with many complex project scenarios and often needs repeated guidance. In simple, pattern‑driven cases, AI can outperform many humans, but overall it acts as both teacher and teammate, expanding the developer’s role rather than eliminating it.

The real shift lies in adapting to new responsibilities and mastering AI collaboration skills.

Appendix

All code in the project was written using Cursor together with Claude 3.7.

https://github.com/flyeric0212/wx-md [1]

Requirement breakdown was performed in Notepad, and coding standards were enforced with the .cursorrules configuration file.