Leveraging AI Programming Assistants for Digital Repository Development: A Practical Demonstration

Digital repository development increasingly demands proficiency across multiple programming languages and frameworks, creating significant barriers for developers learning new technologies. While pair programming with experienced colleagues has traditionally facilitated this learning process, AI coding assistants offer a promising alternative. This presentation demonstrates practical applications of AI programming tools—specifically Cursor and GitHub Copilot—in developing digital repository solutions. Through live demonstrations, I will explore two real-world scenarios: implementing a search application using the Primo API and creating a Python-based preservation script for Hyrax repository content. The demonstration will showcase how AI assistants can accelerate development by providing real-time code generation, automated project structuring, and intelligent error-handling suggestions. This presentation offers insights into leveraging AI assistance to create more robust and maintainable repository systems by examining these tools' strengths and limitations. This approach reduces barriers to entry for new developers and enables faster implementation of digital repository features, ultimately contributing to more equitable access to digital resources.