1. Introduction to AutoCode

AutoCode is an innovative automatic coding tool designed to bootstrap and develop software projects incrementally. It transforms README.md instructions into a fully functional software project using the Claude 3.5 Sonnet API. AutoCode is a NodeJS-based console application that supports multiple programming languages and offers a wide range of features to streamline the development process.

2. Installation and Setup

Requirements

• Node.js (version 20.0.0 or higher)
• Claude 3.5 Sonnet API key

Installation

No installation is required. AutoCode can be run directly using npx.

Setup

1. Create a CLAUDE_KEY environment variable with your Claude 3.5 Sonnet API key.

• You can obtain your API key from https://console.anthropic.com/settings/keys

2. Navigate to your project folder in the terminal.

3. Usage

To start AutoCode, run the following command in your project directory:

npx autocode-ai

Follow the prompts to interact with AutoCode and develop your project.

4. Menu Options and Features

1. Brainstorm README.md

This option uses AI to generate improved content for your project’s README.md file, including new design ideas and considerations.

Usage:

1. Select this option from the main menu.
2. Review the AI-generated suggestions for your README.md.
3. Approve or modify the suggestions as needed.

2. Generate Code

Allows you to select specific files for code generation or updating based on the project’s README and existing structure.

Usage:

1. Choose this option from the main menu.
2. Select the files you want to generate or update.
3. Review the generated code and confirm the changes.

3. Detect Missing Dependencies

Analyzes your project to identify any missing dependencies and suggests additions to your package.json file.

Usage:

1. Select this option from the main menu.
2. Review the list of suggested dependencies.
3. Confirm which dependencies you want to add to your project.

4. Run Static Code Quality Checks

Performs linting and code quality checks on selected files, automatically fixing some issues and creating missing files if needed.

Usage:

1. Choose this option from the main menu.
2. Select the files you want to check.
3. Review the results and apply suggested fixes.

5. Generate Documentation

Creates or updates documentation for selected files, including inline comments and separate documentation files.

Usage:

1. Select this option from the main menu.
2. Choose the files for which you want to generate documentation.
3. Review and approve the generated documentation.

6. Optimize and Refactor File

Analyzes and improves the code structure of selected files, suggesting refactoring options for better performance and readability.

Usage:

1. Choose this option from the main menu.
2. Select the file you want to optimize and refactor.
3. Review the suggested changes and apply them as needed.

7. Chat Interface

Enables a conversation with the AI about specific files or project-wide changes.

Usage:

1. Select this option from the main menu.
2. Start chatting with the AI about your project.
3. Provide suggestions and receive code updates based on your conversation.

8. Generate Project Documentation

Creates comprehensive documentation for the entire project, including architecture overview, API documentation, and usage instructions.

Usage:

1. Choose this option from the main menu.
2. Review the generated project documentation.
3. Approve or modify the documentation as needed.

9. Analyze Code Quality

Performs an in-depth analysis of code quality for selected files, providing detailed feedback and improvement suggestions.

Usage:

1. Select this option from the main menu.
2. Choose the files you want to analyze.
3. Review the detailed feedback and implement suggested improvements.

10. Optimize Project Structure

Suggests improvements to your project’s overall structure, including file organization and module separation.

Usage:

1. Choose this option from the main menu.
2. Review the suggested structural changes.
3. Approve and implement the changes you agree with.

11. Add New File

Assists in creating a new file, including generating initial content based on the file’s purpose and project context.

Usage:

1. Select this option from the main menu.
2. Specify the file name and purpose.
3. Review and modify the generated content as needed.

12. Run AI Agents

Executes specialized AI agents for various tasks such as database migrations, API route creation, testing, and more.

Usage:

1. Choose this option from the main menu.
2. Select the AI agent you want to run (e.g., SQL Migrations Agent, Services Agent, API Routes Agent).
3. Follow the agent-specific prompts and review the results.

13. Security Analysis

Scans selected files for potential security vulnerabilities and provides mitigation suggestions.

Usage:

1. Select this option from the main menu.
2. Choose the files you want to analyze for security issues.
3. Review the vulnerabilities found and implement the suggested fixes.

14. Generate Unit Tests

Creates unit tests for selected files, improving code coverage and reliability.

Usage:

1. Choose this option from the main menu.
2. Select the files for which you want to generate unit tests.
3. Review and run the generated tests, making adjustments as necessary.

15. Analyze Performance

Identifies performance bottlenecks in selected files and suggests optimizations.

Usage:

1. Select this option from the main menu.
2. Choose the files you want to analyze for performance issues.
3. Review the identified bottlenecks and implement the suggested optimizations.

16. Change Temperature

Adjusts the AI’s creativity level for code generation.

Usage:

1. Choose this option from the main menu.
2. Set the desired temperature value (lower for more conservative results, higher for more varied output).
3. Continue using other features with the new temperature setting.

5. Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. API Key Issues:

• Ensure your CLAUDE_KEY environment variable is set correctly.
• Verify that your API key is valid and has not expired.

2. Node.js Version Conflicts:

• Make sure you have Node.js version 20.0.0 or higher installed.
• Use a version manager like nvm to switch between Node.js versions if needed.

3. File Permission Errors:

• Ensure you have write permissions in your project directory.
• Run the command with sudo (on Unix-based systems) if necessary.

4. Network Connectivity Issues:

• Check your internet connection.
• Verify that your firewall is not blocking the connection to the Claude API.

5. Unexpected Code Generation Results:

• Try adjusting the temperature setting for different results.
• Ensure your README.md and existing code provide clear context for the AI.

6. Memory or Performance Issues:

• Close unnecessary applications to free up system resources.
• For large projects, consider breaking down tasks into smaller chunks.

6. Best Practices for Using AutoCode

1. Start with a Clear README.md: Provide detailed project requirements and structure in your README.md file for better AI comprehension.
2. Iterative Development: Use AutoCode incrementally, reviewing and refining generated code at each step.
3. Combine AI Agents: Utilize multiple AI agents in sequence for comprehensive project development.
4. Regular Code Reviews: Use the Code Review Agent frequently to maintain code quality.
5. Version Control: Commit changes regularly and use branches for experimental AI-generated code.
6. Customize Language Configs: Adjust language-specific configurations to match your project’s coding standards.
7. Balance AI Assistance and Human Oversight: While AutoCode is powerful, always review and understand the generated code.
8. Utilize the Chat Interface: For complex tasks, use the chat interface to provide detailed context and requirements.
9. Maintain Documentation: Regularly update project documentation as your codebase evolves.
10. Security First: Run security analysis frequently, especially before deploying code.
11. Performance Optimization: Periodically use the performance analysis feature to keep your code efficient.
12. Test-Driven Development: Generate unit tests before implementing new features to ensure code reliability.

By following these guidelines and leveraging AutoCode’s features, you can significantly streamline your development process and create high-quality software projects efficiently.