Your First AI Code

🎯 Lesson Objectives

📖 Introduction: Reading Before Running

Here's an important principle for vibe coding:

Think of it like being a music producer — you don't need to play every instrument, but you need to hear when something sounds wrong.

🎮 The Workshop Task

We're going to create a simple program:

Goal: A Python script that asks for your birth year and tells you your age.

Why Python?

• Clean, readable syntax
• Perfect for learning to READ code
• One of the most common languages

Why This Task?

• Simple enough to understand
• Complex enough to show real coding concepts
• Has clear input → process → output

📝 Step 1: Write Your Own Prompt First

Before looking at examples, try writing your own prompt for this task.

The task: Ask AI to create a Python script that:

1. Asks the user for their birth year
2. Calculates their age
3. Displays a friendly message with their age

Take a minute to write this before moving on!

📝 Step 2: Compare With Example Prompt

Here's a well-crafted prompt using C.I.C. + Role:

Compare with your prompt:

• Did you specify Python?
• Did you ask for a friendly message?
• Did you request comments/explanations?

🤖 Step 3: The Generated Code

Send the prompt and you should receive something like this:

# Age Calculator Program
 
# Get the current year
current_year = 2024
 
# Ask the user for their birth year
birth_year_text = input("What year were you born? ")
 
# Convert the text input to a number
birth_year = int(birth_year_text)
 
# Calculate the age
age = current_year - birth_year
 
# Display a friendly message
print(f"Awesome! You are {age} years old this year! 🎂")

Note: Your AI's output might look slightly different — that's fine!

🔍 Step 4: Code Reading Scavenger Hunt

Now let's learn to READ this code. Look at the generated code and answer these questions:

Question 1: Find the Variables 🔎

Variables are like labeled boxes that store information. They're created using the = sign.

How many variables can you spot?

Question 2: Find the Math ➕➖

Look for the calculation that determines the age.

What symbol is used for subtraction?

Question 3: Find the Output 📤

The print() function displays text to the user.

What message will the user see?

Question 4: Find the Input 📥

The input() function asks the user to type something.

What question does the program ask?

Question 5: Find the Conversion 🔄

Notice there are TWO variables for birth year. Why?

📊 Code Reading Quick Reference

Here's what to look for when reading code:

🎓 Step 5: Ask AI to Explain

Now practice getting explanations from AI. Try these follow-up prompts:

Prompt for Line-by-Line Explanation:

Prompt for Specific Part:

Prompt for Concepts:

🧪 Step 6: Modify Through Prompts

Now practice modifying code through conversation with AI.

Modification 1: Change the Message

Modification 2: Add More Info

Modification 3: Add Validation

Try each of these. See how AI modifies the code based on your requests!

🔑 Key Code Vocabulary

After this lesson, you should recognize:

✅ Completion Checklist

✅ Lesson Summary

📝 Mini Quiz