How AI helped a self-taught developer break into blockchain technology.
Breaking into blockchain development isn’t easy, especially for newcomers with no coding background. But for RJay Solamo, a co-founder of Web3 Davao, artificial intelligence became the key to unlocking his journey in Web3.
With no prior coding experience, Solamo leveraged ChatGPT to teach himself the fundamentals of blockchain development, a decision that would change the course of his career.
Starting from Zero
Solamo's entry into Web3 was not through traditional coding education but through AI assistance. Initially, he had no background in programming, but ChatGPT helped him take his first steps.
"Ano talaga, sir? Parang zero talaga ako sa coding. Then, buti nalang may AI,"
(Honestly, sir, I really had zero experience in coding. But luckily, there was AI.)
Rather than enrolling in formal courses, he started by copying and pasting Solidity smart contracts generated by ChatGPT. At first, he deployed simple testnet contracts without fully understanding the logic behind them. This trial-and-error approach, powered by AI, allowed him to gain hands-on experience quickly.
Beyond Copy-Pasting
While AI gave him a head start, Solamo knew that simply copying code wasn’t enough. As he deepened his learning, he realized the importance of understanding the principles behind blockchain programming.
"Nag-deploy ako, okay na siya. Then, ano? Sabi ko, ay, hindi to. Pwede palagi ganito. Then, ano? Nag-learning talaga."
(I deployed it, and it worked. Then I thought, 'Oh, this isn't right. I can't always do it this way.' So I really started learning.)
This led him to explore Rust, a language commonly used in blockchain development, and participate in hackathons where he could test his knowledge in real-world scenarios. Through continuous self-study and engagement with the Web3 community, he transitioned from a beginner relying on AI to an independent developer.
A recent survey by Stack Overflow found that AI tools are becoming increasingly popular among developers, with 76% of respondents already using or planning to use them. The majority (72%) view AI tools favorably, and 81% recognize their ability to boost productivity.
For those learning to code, AI plays an even more significant role, with 71% seeing it as a valuable tool for accelerating their learning process, compared to 61% of professional developers.
AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement
Solamo's journey reflects the evolving role of AI in technical education. Rather than replacing developers, AI serves as a valuable learning aid that accelerates the onboarding process for newcomers to Web3.
"Para sa akin, sir, ang AI, hindi siya para treat sa mga developer. Nakakatulong siya para, ano lang, pabawasan yung oras na gagawin ng isang developer."
(For me, sir, AI is not a threat to developers. It helps by simply reducing the time needed to complete tasks.)
Through AI-powered learning, Solamo went from a non-coder to a blockchain developer in just a year. His story proves that with the right tools and determination, anyone can break into the world of Web3, regardless of their background.
