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Richard Robins

Guide : Practicing Web Design Skills by Debugging AI-Generated Code

Posted by Richard Robins on December 1, 2024 - Last modified on December 1, 2024.

AI tools have made web development faster and more accessible, generating code that can help developers of all skill levels.

However, like any tool, AI-generated code is not perfect and can contain bugs or inefficiencies.

This presents a valuable learning opportunity: debugging AI-generated code. By identifying and fixing errors, you can hone your web design and coding skills, improving your understanding of both AI-assisted development and the intricacies of web design.

In this guide, we’ll explore how you can practice your web design skills by debugging AI-generated code, learning from the mistakes, and refining your ability to build clean, functional websites.

Step 1: Start with an AI-Generated Code Snippet

AI tools like ChatGPT can generate web design code in a variety of formats—HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc. However, sometimes these snippets come with mistakes like broken syntax, missing styles, or incorrect structure. Using these as practice exercises can help sharpen your debugging skills.

Example Prompt:

“Generate a simple webpage layout with a navigation bar, header, and footer using HTML and CSS. Include some basic styles for colors and fonts.”

AI-Generated Code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>AI-Generated Webpage</title>
    <style>
        body {
            font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
            background-color: #f0f0f0;
        }
        header {
            background-color: #333;
            color: white;
            padding: 10px;
        }
        nav {
            background-color: #444;
            text-align: center;
        }
        footer {
            background-color: #333;
            color: white;
            padding: 5px;
            position: absolute;
            bottom: 0;
            width: 100%;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <header>
        <h1>Welcome to My Webpage</h1>
    </header>
    <nav>
        <ul>
            <li><a href="#home">Home</a></li>
            <li><a href="#about">About</a></li>
            <li><a href="#contact">Contact</a></li>
        </ul>
    </nav>
    <footer>
        <p>© 2024 All Rights Reserved</p>
    </footer>
</body>
</html>

Step 2: Identify Issues in the Code

Once you have the code, start by looking for issues or areas that could be improved. Some common issues you may encounter with AI-generated code include:

  1. Layout Problems: AI may not implement layout principles like responsiveness or flexibility properly.
  2. CSS Errors: Sometimes styles may not display correctly, or AI may forget key properties like margin, padding, or display rules.
  3. Accessibility Gaps: Accessibility features such as alt text for images, proper heading structure, and color contrast may be overlooked.
  4. Structural Inconsistencies: HTML elements may not be nested properly, or the CSS may have conflicting rules.

Let’s break down this code example to identify some potential issues.

Step 3: Fix Common Problems in the AI-Generated Code

Issue 1: Missing Navigation List Styling

The navigation bar (nav) has list items (<li>) but no styling for links or spacing. The <a> tags don’t look like clickable elements, and there’s no spacing between the items.

Fix:
  • Add padding to the <a> tags.
  • Display the list items horizontally instead of vertically.
nav ul {
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0;
    list-style-type: none;
    display: flex; /* Align items horizontally */
    justify-content: center;
}

nav ul li {
    margin: 0 10px;
}

nav ul li a {
    color: white;
    text-decoration: none;
    padding: 8px 16px;
}

nav ul li a:hover {
    background-color: #555;
    border-radius: 4px;
}

Issue 2: Footer Overlapping Content

Since the footer is positioned at the bottom using position: absolute;, it may overlap with the main content if the page length is not sufficient.

Fix:
  • Use position: relative; for the footer and make sure the page layout adjusts with the content.
footer {
    background-color: #333;
    color: white;
    padding: 15px;
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    text-align: center;
}

Issue 3: No Responsiveness for Mobile Devices

The layout may not look good on smaller screens. We can implement media queries to improve responsiveness.

Fix:
  • Add a simple media query to adjust the layout for mobile devices.
@media (max-width: 768px) {
    nav ul {
        flex-direction: column;
    }

    footer {
        padding: 10px;
    }
}

Step 4: Test and Refine the Code

After applying your fixes, load the page in a browser and test the following:

  • Layout: Check that the navigation bar is centered and the links are properly styled.
  • Footer: Ensure the footer does not overlap any content and adjusts properly for smaller screens.
  • Responsiveness: Shrink the browser window to see if the page adapts to mobile devices.

Keep refining the code until the page works smoothly across different devices and browsers.

Step 5: Document Your Debugging Process

As you debug the AI-generated code, take note of common mistakes or patterns you notice in AI-generated snippets. You can even document these issues in a personal knowledge base or checklist to streamline future debugging tasks. For example:

  • Layout Issues: Always check for proper use of flexbox or grid for alignment.
  • CSS Styling: Ensure all elements are styled appropriately and have adequate spacing.
  • Accessibility: Double-check color contrast, add alt text to images, and ensure proper heading hierarchy.

Step 6: Use AI to Learn from Your Debugging

Once you’ve fixed the issues, you can take it a step further by asking AI tools for suggestions on improving your code. For instance, you could prompt:

Example Prompt: “Suggest ways to optimize this CSS code for better performance and readability.”

AI can then suggest improvements like combining similar CSS rules, optimizing selectors, or using shorthand properties. Incorporating these suggestions into your learning process will help refine your skills further.

Conclusion

Debugging AI-generated code is a powerful way to practice and enhance your web design skills.

By identifying issues, fixing bugs, and refining the code, you not only become more proficient in your technical abilities but also develop a deeper understanding of how AI tools can be used to assist in development. The process allows you to experiment, learn from mistakes, and gain confidence in your coding skills, preparing you to build even better websites in the future.

Richard Robins

Richard Robins

Richard is passionate about sharing how AI resources such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot can be used to create addons and write code, saving small website owners time and money, freeing them to focus on making their site a success.


Disclaimer

The coding tips and guides provided on this website are intended for informational and educational purposes only. While we strive to offer accurate and helpful content, these tips are meant as a starting point for your own coding projects and should not be considered professional advice.

We do not guarantee the effectiveness, security, or safety of any code or techniques discussed on this site. Implementing these tips is done at your own risk, and we encourage you to thoroughly test and evaluate any code before deploying it on your own website or application.

By using this site, you acknowledge that we are not responsible for any issues, damages, or losses that may arise from your use of the information provided herein.