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Leveraging {AI}`to Code`

Going beyond the vibe

AI is closing the technical gap for non-technical people

Birth your ideas into the world

"Exponential Organizations"

AI is closing the Technical gap for non-technical users. I believe that we're about 6months to a year before the more powerful LLMs and more advanced models will stop producing SLOP SLOP.. but with all of the AI slop on the slop layer of applications all over right now, there is more opportunity than ever to create technically sound and security-oriented software that is free or low-risk for attack-surface. We'll jump into this idea soon in the presentation to describe the changing landscape for business and software pipelines, and what you can do as your own self-taught Dev to go way beyond what most CS students are applying.. So why here and why now? In about 10 years we are projected to have elliminated 70% of jobs modestly. Talking to multiple tech CEOs in NYC, I believe the picture is more clear though. With more advanced Tech, not available for the average person to see at mass market, no one realizes that all of these companies are innovating our way into AGI and eventually singularity. Which is why now is the time to not just gain a sense of literacy but what's more important is to share your unique ideas and creativity with the world! Exponential Organizations, The book Salim Ismael, becoming your own brand and business entity to thrive in a quantum geared society. And also the success formula of Leverage = Reach + Impact.. if you can go to mass market or just build up your presence in the world over years, you may be surprised how much futher you get than people who are discouraged and self-doubting. Manifesting but also taking action in the direction of your dreams at the same time and not looking to the present circumstances to define your vast growth and potential.

Who Am I?

Background in ethical hacking

Competitive chess player

Shipping apps & running TechNYC.io

Ethical Hacking

Escaped hectic childhood through problem solving

A love of Tinkering and Reverse Engineering

You Win or you Learn, trusting the process

Chess and a secondary spark

Trained with NMs in my 20s

Chess Rewired my Brain

70-100hr work weeks (physical fitness + optimizing sleep)

"A bad plan is better than no plan at all" - Mikhail Chigorin

My Apps

App Store & Google Play

Running TechNYC.io

Introductions

What inspired you to learn about AI and the future of tech?

What do you hope to get out of this class?

Let's make this a choose your own adventure

## How AI Was Developed
						
						From transformers to modern LLMs

### Transformers Enabled Scale
						Self-attention allowed parallel processing

### Parameters Store Patterns
						Numeric values that create behavior, not facts

### Scaling Laws Drove Growth
						More size + data + compute = better performance

### Data Quality Matters
						Clean, diverse, deduplicated data prevents noise and bias

### Post-Training Creates Intelligence
						Fine-tuning with human feedback makes AI helpful and safe 
						
						Note:
						How AI was developed from transformers and then the invention has caused the growth and the parameter explosion.

DETAILED EXPLANATIONS:

1. Transformers enabled scale - Self-attention allowed parallel processing, making it possible to train huge models efficiently.

2. Parameters are learned weights - They are numeric values that store patterns from data, not facts, but statistical relationships that create behavior.

3. Scaling laws drove growth - Researchers discovered that increasing model size, data, and compute reliably improves performance.

4. Data quality matters as much as size - Clean, diverse, deduplicated data is critical or large models learn noise and bias.

5. Post-training creates usable intelligence - Fine-tuning with human feedback (alignment) turns raw models into helpful, safe assistants.

---

## AI Tools Available Now

- Meta-LLama API (free for developers and businesses) 
						- Opencode, Warp (trial credits available) 
						- DeepSeek (cost-effective during off-peak) 
						- Premium models for best consistent compute 
						- Signing up as a developer with Apple (about $100 a year and for Google Play another 600mil users about $25)

Note:
						AI Tools, TUI, MetaLlama, Ollama, leveraging low cost or free tools.

Meta-LLama API, if you identify as a developer you can get access.

Opencode, Warp - depending on the model and the usage, many open source models will allow trial runs and initial credits to try before you Pay-per-request.

DeepSeek is something that is going to be effective mostly when China is sleeping per the cost that you pay for it, but it will not be able to do high compute tasks.

If you want the best of the best on a consistent basis then I recommend saving up to experience waves of the best compute and param models.

Systems Thinking Wins, Finding Your Niche in a sea of Tech

The person who implements systems thinking wins over the hardworking person who builds slowly

SWARMS & multi-agent automation
AI as force multiplier on effort
Compete globally as your own business entity

What Are SWARMS and how do they relate to systems thinking and automation? Multi-agent systems, the systems of the future alongside operating in our physical world with smart infrastructure and IoT. Why AI is a Force Multiplier on effort and what that means for us? AI is a human auto-complete of sorts, more in terms of automation but is not yet outsourcing our creativity. But there are also many arguments that more powerful large language models allow for similar levels of creativity, paying a premium for this power of course. Why everyone should consider becoming their own business entity and competing on the global market. Artificial intelligence and robotics are part of the technology wave projected to contribute trillions of dollars by the early 2030s, with AI alone expected to influence nearly every occupation and add as much as $13–$16 trillion in market value for major firms as adoption scales. Even though big tech companies publicly emphasize augmentation, frontier AI leaders report that automation is already reshaping hiring patterns, particularly for routine, entry-level, and task-based work, and that up to 70% of current jobs could be replaced or delegated to AI systems within the next decade. This rapid shift makes entrepreneurial independence and lifelong adaptability increasingly valuable in a world where traditional employment structures are under pressure from emerging autonomous systems.

Vibe Coding: Not Even ONCE

{Vibe Coding Memes}

Excellent for getting started, but limits growth at ceiling
Often neglects understanding of syntax and logic
Creates dependency on contractors who may not refine your app
AI assistants help bridge gaps when used properly
Building yourself gives greater satisfaction and capability

DETAILED EXPLANATION: Vibe coding is an excellent way to get started with software, but ultimately it limits growth once you hit the ceiling of what you don't know. People who vibe code often rush the app creation process. They neglect to understand files, modules, syntax, and the underlying logic — even if the AI-written language is human-readable and almost like English. They assume it's easier to pay contractors to save time and handle the hard work. While these developers can help you reach an MVP, they often cannot refine the app and may continue charging to maintain or fix it when it inevitably breaks. Understanding conventions and syntax doesn't mean learning the entire language overnight. AI assistants, chatbots, or agents are excellent for answering questions. In the opencode demo, we'll cover how to create an extensive blueprint of app features before letting AI build, which helps mitigate mistakes and misdirection caused by LLM quirks. Creating an app yourself will give you a greater level of satisfaction and allow you to go beyond what the average coder can produce.

Secuity: Attack Vectors in the age of AI

Businesses ship tech too fast for IT to keep up

Scaling from 10 to 1000 users overnight

China, Russia, North Korea,.. Less regulations on Gov Hackers etc

AI enables malware-masterpieces, new forms of worms and trojans.. classes of info-stealers and data-exfiltration.. and no you cannot remove all of your info from data brokers or the dark web..

How do you create robust systems

What happens when you reach a hundred users, grow to ten thousand overnight and cannot handle the pipeline. Companies these days have the bottom line to ship quickly and get the highest margin for work put in. For this reason IT departments are overloaded with shoring up app security and closing massive holes in infrastructures. Large databases with our valuable information become easy targets when things scale rapidly. Hackers and scammers exfiltrate and leak data to the underground. Let me tell you a story of The russian bears.... and how easily they gained persistent access. AI has enabled the average hacker to create masterful works of art in malware, botnets, and namely pry open vulnerabilities in the forms of bugs to gain access to client, the backend, and eventually mass storage in the form of a database. Once in hackers can insert malicious script and maintain persistence on your production environment doing all of this while often being undetected for months, years or indefinitely without your knowledge while your app continues to be hosted. So how do I create robust systems in the age when the most advanced threats are perpetually being created and deployed?

## Which Language Should I Learn?

**General-Purpose:** Python • JavaScript • Java • C#  
					**Systems:** C • C++ • Rust  
					**Web/Backend:** PHP • Go  
					**Mobile:** Swift • Kotlin  
					**Data/Scientific:** R • MATLAB

**Start with Python or JavaScript—learn as you build.**

Note:
					Why You Are Qualified: AI is a force multiplier and the new tech of swarm-agents. The landscape over the next 3-7 years and beyond with stats to back it up. How can a non-technical person get started right now? Gaining the skills to close the gap and build systems and Apps that are made with the user in mind. Timing and shipping ideas for the long-game.

DETAILED LANGUAGE BREAKDOWN:

GENERAL-PURPOSE LANGUAGES:
					
					Python - Attributes: High readability, simple syntax, huge ecosystem. Advantages for learners: Easiest entry point, fast feedback loop, used in AI, data, automation, web.

JavaScript - Attributes: Runs in browsers, event-driven, dynamic typing. Advantages for learners: Immediate visual results, essential for web development, one language for front-end and back-end.

Java - Attributes: Strongly typed, object-oriented, platform independent (JVM). Advantages for learners: Teaches software engineering discipline, widely used in enterprise systems, strong tooling.

C# - Attributes: Modern, strongly typed, integrated with .NET, high productivity. Advantages for learners: Clean structure, excellent tooling, popular for Windows apps and games (Unity).

SYSTEMS AND PERFORMANCE LANGUAGES:

C - Attributes: Low-level, manual memory control, extremely fast. Advantages for learners: Teaches how computers actually work, foundation for understanding memory and performance.

C++ - Attributes: High performance, object-oriented + low-level control, used in engines and real-time systems. Advantages for learners: Powerful skill set, used in game engines and simulations.

Rust - Attributes: Memory safe without garbage collection, high performance, strong compiler guarantees. Advantages for learners: Teaches safe systems design, prevents common bugs, growing industry demand.

WEB AND BACKEND LANGUAGES:

PHP - Attributes: Server-side web focused, simple deployment, large legacy ecosystem. Advantages for learners: Easy to start hosting, still widely used (WordPress).

Go (Golang) - Attributes: Simple syntax, built-in concurrency, fast compilation. Advantages for learners: Easy to read, excellent for servers and cloud systems.

FUNCTIONAL AND ACADEMIC-ORIENTED:

Haskell - Attributes: Pure functional, strong type system, mathematical foundations. Advantages for learners: Teaches deep thinking about logic and correctness.

MOBILE DEVELOPMENT:

Swift - Attributes: Modern, safe memory handling, Apple ecosystem. Advantages for learners: Best for iOS development, clean syntax.

Kotlin - Attributes: Modern replacement for Java, null safety, Android-first. Advantages for learners: Easier than Java, strong mobile job market.

DATA AND SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING:

R - Attributes: Statistical focus, data visualization, research oriented. Advantages for learners: Designed for data analysis, easy plotting and modeling.

MATLAB - Attributes: Matrix-based computing, engineering focused. Advantages for learners: Excellent for math-heavy fields.

THE BIG LEARNING INSIGHT:

Languages differ in three main dimensions:
					1. Level of abstraction - Low-level (C, Rust) = closer to hardware. High-level (Python, JS) = closer to human thinking.
					2. Strictness - Strong typing (Java, Rust) = fewer runtime errors. Dynamic typing (Python, JS) = faster experimentation.
					3. Domain focus - Web, mobile, systems, data, games.

Best Starter Languages (Practical Consensus):
					For most new learners: Python for concepts and logic, JavaScript for real-world interaction and UI, Go or Java for backend structure, Rust or C for deep computer understanding.

Those willing to do the work will always outpace the 95%. In a world of people conditioned to settle, the person who stays consistent, not saying hustle and grind, wins the race. You are not competing with anyone else but instead I think the quest is take your own unique experience and then bake it into your application.

Let's get started (Command line Exercise)

Track changes and collaborate with others
Commit often with meaningful messages
Branch for features, merge when ready
Push to remote repositories (GitHub, GitLab)


git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"
git push origin main

Version control is essential for any serious development work. Git is the industry standard. Key concepts: - Repository: Your project folder tracked by git - Commit: A snapshot of your code at a point in time - Branch: A parallel version of your code - Merge: Combining branches together - Remote: A copy of your repo on a server (like GitHub) Best practices: - Commit often with clear, descriptive messages - Create branches for new features - Use pull requests for code review - Never commit secrets or API keys Basic workflow: 1. Make changes to your code 2. git add to stage changes 3. git commit to save snapshot 4. git push to upload to remote This allows you to collaborate with others, revert mistakes, and track your project's history.

Learning Best Practices

Understand problem-solving logic before writing code
Practice with whiteboarding exercises
Read official documentation to learn conventions
Compare high-level vs low-level languages
Learn the difference between compiling and transpiling
Explore frameworks and select one that fits your goals
Set up a coding environment for productivity
Experiment with tools and libraries to build your personal toolkit
Reference memes or analogies to remember concepts

These are practical tips for learning to code effectively. Understand the logic and problem-solving approach before diving into syntax. Whiteboarding helps you think through problems without getting distracted by code. Official documentation is your best friend - learn to read it and reference it often. Understanding the difference between high-level and low-level languages, compiling vs transpiling, and other fundamental concepts will make you a better developer. Choose your tools wisely - explore frameworks and find what works for your goals. Your development environment matters - invest time in setting it up properly. Build your personal toolkit of libraries and tools you trust and understand. Don't underestimate the power of analogies and memes - they help concepts stick!

The Command Line Is Your Friend

Bash, ZSH, and mastering Unix


					# Navigate directories
					cd ~/projects/my-app

					# List files with details
					ls -la

					# Run your app
					npm start

Fun Exercise: Code Creates Music

Let's make some sounds with JavaScript

Open your browser console (F12)

Try the Web Audio API

Experiment with frequencies and timing


						// Create audio context
						const audioCtx = new AudioContext();
						const oscillator = audioCtx.createOscillator();

						// Set frequency (440Hz = A note)
						oscillator.frequency.value = 440;
						oscillator.connect(audioCtx.destination);

						// Play for 1 second
						oscillator.start();
						setTimeout(() => oscillator.stop(), 1000);

Take a Break

Case Studies: Cool Visual Effects with Code

You can do a lot with very little code, leveraging JS

Penguins on Bread - Shell script magic

Sarah Drasner's CodePen examples:

OpenCode: Replace the Vibe

Prompt Engineering for Dummies!

Context: Give the AI background information
Task: Clearly state what you want
Format: Specify how you want the output
Examples: Show the AI what good looks like
Constraints: Set boundaries and limitations

Prompt Engineering: Using AI to create the AI

Pair up with a partner

Take turns being the prospective user and the app engineer

Ask each other these 4 questions:

Basics of Prompt Engineering
Using ChatGPT to prompt the Coding Agent
Asking the right questions
Choosing your consequences, baking in some guard rails

Syntax: Containers for Meaning

Think of syntax as boxes that hold logic


// Simple variable
let name = "value";

Syntax: Containers for Meaning

Scope is like building floors


						// Global scope (entire building)
						let globalVar = "everyone can see";

						function myFunction() {
						  // Local scope (one floor)
						  let localVar = "only this floor";
						}

Elephant connected to a pole - an elephant that doubts itself will not pull the stake out of the ground. What is syntax... how to read it like English, logic vs intuition. In learning about syntax I think it's important to learn as you run into new ideas and concepts. One of the best ways to learn is through the adventure of building rather than being in a classroom and over conceptualizing the idea. Think of syntax as containers or boxes for meaning, it can often seem very binary but it makes up the skeleton of data, logic and rules. But also writing your syntax in modular files allows you to separate code and keep things organized and also to separate global and local scope. Think of scope as elevators and escalators up levels, some there is a global scope that is shared and inherited from the top local scopes and other times you want to keep the meaning and the modularity just imported on one or a couple of building floors. Each floor represents the scope or the containment within your app state, and so you can have the global overall app state and then simultaneously have containment and smaller substates that operate within the whole and make different features and processes available at will or concurrently to all of this. Learn how to learn - this is the key. Don't get overwhelmed by trying to memorize everything. Learn as you build.

Generating an Idea Worth Your Time

What problem am I solving?

What is my intention for building this?

A compelling reason fuels creativity

From Build to App Architecture

Start with a blueprint before coding
Separate concerns: Frontend, Backend, Database
Choose your stack: MERN, PERN, Django, etc.
Plan for scalability from day one
Document your architecture decisions

Going from "just building" to thinking architecturally is a huge leap in software development. Key architectural concepts: SEPARATION OF CONCERNS: - Frontend: What users see and interact with (React, Vue, Angular) - Backend: Business logic and API (Node, Python, Java) - Database: Data storage (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL) POPULAR STACKS: - MERN: MongoDB, Express, React, Node - PERN: PostgreSQL, Express, React, Node - Django: Python full-stack framework - Ruby on Rails: Ruby full-stack framework ARCHITECTURAL PATTERNS: - MVC: Model-View-Controller - Microservices: Independent services that communicate - Monolith: All-in-one application - Serverless: Functions as a service PLANNING FOR SCALE: - Use caching (Redis) - Load balancing - Database indexing - CDN for static assets Don't over-engineer early, but have a vision for where your app needs to go. Start simple, but design with growth in mind.

Creating Agents That Work While You Sleep

Automate repetitive tasks with scripts
Use cron jobs for scheduled execution
Build AI agents with LangChain or AutoGPT
Monitor, log, and alert on failures
Let automation compound your efforts

Creating agents and automation is how you multiply your productivity. TYPES OF AUTOMATION: 1. SIMPLE SCRIPTS: - Data processing - File management - API calls and data syncing 2. SCHEDULED JOBS (Cron): - Run backups at 3am - Generate daily reports - Clean up old data 3. AI AGENTS: - LangChain: Chain multiple AI calls together - AutoGPT: Autonomous task execution - Custom agents with OpenAI API 4. MONITORING & ALERTS: - Health checks - Error notifications (email, Slack, SMS) - Performance monitoring BENEFITS: - Work gets done while you sleep - Consistency and reliability - Free up time for creative work - Scale beyond your personal capacity EXAMPLES: - Social media posting bot - Data scraping and analysis - Customer support chatbot - Code review automation - Testing and deployment pipelines Start small: automate one task this week. Then build from there. The compound effect of automation is massive.

CyberSec & Ethical Hacking

Harden your app's security and adopt best practices

Never trust user input - sanitize everything
Use environment variables for secrets
Implement authentication & authorization properly
Keep dependencies updated (npm audit)
Use HTTPS everywhere
Test for common vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10)

Security is NOT an afterthought - it must be built in from the start. COMMON VULNERABILITIES (OWASP Top 10): 1. Injection attacks (SQL injection, XSS) 2. Broken authentication 3. Sensitive data exposure 4. XML external entities (XXE) 5. Broken access control 6. Security misconfiguration 7. Cross-site scripting (XSS) 8. Insecure deserialization 9. Using components with known vulnerabilities 10. Insufficient logging and monitoring BEST PRACTICES: INPUT VALIDATION: - Never trust user input - Sanitize and validate all data - Use parameterized queries for databases - Escape output to prevent XSS SECRETS MANAGEMENT: - NEVER commit API keys or passwords to git - Use environment variables (.env files) - Use secret management tools (AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault) AUTHENTICATION: - Use bcrypt for password hashing (never store plain text) - Implement JWT tokens properly - Add rate limiting to prevent brute force - Use 2FA when possible DEPENDENCIES: - Run npm audit regularly - Keep packages updated - Remove unused dependencies - Use Snyk or Dependabot for automated checks ETHICAL HACKING: - Learn to think like an attacker - Practice on deliberately vulnerable apps (DVWA, WebGoat) - Understand the mindset to defend better - Bug bounties can teach you a lot Security is a journey, not a destination. Stay vigilant and keep learning.

The Future of AI and Humanity

AI is here to stay

70% of jobs projected to be automated

Adapt or be left behind

Work-Life Balance & Success

Pull the lever, but maintain balance

Boredom is underrated

Success is a marathon, not a sprint

Live Coding Demo

Watch as we build something live

See the process: plan → code → test → deploy

Ask questions as we go

TechNYC.io

Gamified tech education for everyone

Learn to code the way you learned language - through practice and engagement

DEMO OUTLINE: Choose something impressive but achievable in 10-15 minutes: - Build a simple API endpoint - Create an interactive web component - Demonstrate AI integration (OpenAI API call) - Show database operations - Deploy something live DEMO TIPS: - Have it pre-planned but make it look spontaneous - Explain your thinking process as you code - Show debugging when things go wrong (they will!) - Keep it simple - focus on concepts not complexity - Have backup plan if internet/tech fails TECHNYC.IO PITCH: What makes it different: - Gamified learning (like Duolingo for tech) - Bite-sized lessons you can do in 5-10 minutes - Real projects, not toy examples - Community support and mentorship - Affordable - way cheaper than bootcamps - Self-paced but structured Target audience: - Complete beginners - Career changers - People who tried coding before and got stuck - Anyone who wants practical skills fast Show your passion for making tech education accessible. This is your chance to inspire and recruit!

Q&A and Resources

Learning Resources

FreeCodeCamp.org - Free full curriculum
MDN Web Docs - Best web dev reference
OpenCode - AI-powered coding assistant
The Odin Project - Full-stack curriculum
CS50 - Harvard's intro to CS (free on YouTube)

Communities

r/learnprogramming on Reddit
Dev.to - Developer blogging community
Discord coding servers
Local meetups and hackathons

Questions?

This is your chance to answer questions and provide resources for continued learning. ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS: - No question is too basic - Create a safe space for asking - Answer thoroughly but concisely - Connect questions to real-world applications ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO MENTION: FREE LEARNING: - YouTube channels: Traversy Media, Net Ninja, Fireship - Podcasts: Syntax.fm, CodeNewbie - Documentation: Always read the official docs PAID BUT WORTH IT: - Frontend Masters - Udemy courses (wait for sales) - Pluralsight - TechNYC.io (plug your platform!) PRACTICE: - LeetCode for algorithms - Frontend Mentor for UI challenges - CodeWars for problem solving - Build real projects, not tutorials STAYING CURRENT: - Hacker News - Dev.to - Twitter tech community - Newsletter: JavaScript Weekly, Node Weekly, etc. FINAL WORDS: - Start today, don't wait for "perfect" time - Consistency beats intensity - Build in public, share your journey - Help others when you can - teaching reinforces learning - The tech community is welcoming - don't be afraid to ask for help Thank everyone for their time and attention. Provide your contact info for follow-up questions.

Leveraging {AI}to Code

Going beyond the vibe

Who Am I?

Ethical Hacking

Chess and a secondary spark

My Apps

Introductions

Systems Thinking Wins, Finding Your Niche in a sea of Tech

Vibe Coding: Not Even ONCE

Secuity: Attack Vectors in the age of AI

Let's get started (Command line Exercise)

Learning Best Practices

The Command Line Is Your Friend

Fun Exercise: Code Creates Music

Take a Break

Case Studies: Cool Visual Effects with Code

OpenCode: Replace the Vibe

Prompt Engineering: Using AI to create the AI

Syntax: Containers for Meaning

Syntax: Containers for Meaning

Generating an Idea Worth Your Time

From Build to App Architecture

Creating Agents That Work While You Sleep

CyberSec & Ethical Hacking

The Future of AI and Humanity

Work-Life Balance & Success

Live Coding Demo

TechNYC.io

Q&A and Resources

Learning Resources

Communities

Leveraging {AI}`to Code`