Description

On 1st March 2025, the IEEE Computer Society (CS) Student Branch Chapter of the University of Ruhuna hosted a groundbreaking online session titled 'Unlocking the Future of Coding – A Hands-On Session with Generative AI Tools'. The event was conducted via Zoom and welcomed over 200 participants from various backgrounds. It explored the latest AI-powered coding assistants, demonstrating how tools like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, WindSurf, and OpenHands are reshaping modern software development. The session aimed to equip attendees with practical skills and insights into the future of AI-assisted programming. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE SESSION • Introduce participants to generative AI tools for software development. • Demonstrate real-time use of AI assistants such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, WindSurf, and more. • Highlight productivity boosts and workflow enhancements through AI tools. • Educate developers on how AI transforms debugging, code optimization, and auto-completion. KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SESSION • Live demos showcasing various AI-powered coding tools. • Step-by-step walkthroughs of real development tasks using AI assistants. • Explained advantages of auto-completions, intelligent suggestions, and productivity gains. • Interactive and engaging delivery of concepts with practical takeaways for all levels of developers. EVENT OUTCOMES • Participants acquired hands-on knowledge about generative AI tools. • Increased awareness of AI's role in revolutionizing software development. • Boosted confidence among attendees to integrate AI tools in their coding workflows. • Strengthened engagement with IEEE CS through cutting-edge tech sessions.