Coding with Latenode's AI + JavaScript Assistant: A Low-Code Platform for Simplified Development

Hey, Hackernoon! It’s Daniel from Latenode – a cloud-based low-code platform where you can easily create adaptable business process automation and build apps without the hassle of managing any infrastructure. Whether you're into frontend, backend, or just starting to learn JavaScript, this article introduces a free tool designed to save you tons of time and effort.

Latenode platform interface

There's a new addition within the JavaScript module that’s extremely useful for development. It's an AI assistant that is designed to help with a wide variety of coding tasks, such as:

• Code writing

• Debugging

• Code explanation

• Modifications on request

  
  

The best part? All of Latenode's functionality is completely free until the beginning of the new year (because we’re in Beta now). And before we dive further, check out some early user feedback about our AI assistant:

one of the users' feedback

How to Use Latenode AI Assistant?

The assistant resides within the JavaScript node. You interact through the 'AI Chat' window. Its capabilities include:

• Viewing your workflow and node structure.
• Analyzing existing code within the JavaScript node from where the assistant was summoned.
• Accessing data structure on the left side of the JS node.

dialog window with AI

Use-Cases

The beauty of the AI assistant on Latenode is that it represents a huge step towards the realization of our mission: now, even those unfamiliar with coding can create their own microservices or build complex automations. Let’s demonstrate this with three scenarios.

Scenario #1 HTML tasks

Consider a scenario where you need a data collection form accessible via a webhook URL. This could be handy in numerous situations. Initially, you fill out the form. Then, the data can be routed anywhere: either to another automation branch on Latenode for further transformations or into another system. What about making this scenario without typing a single line of code?

form for composing emails

Step 1. Send a request to the AI assistant:

Hi! Append my code with a script to generate HTML for a form titled 'create email'. It should have these input fields: 'email subject', 'overview', 'header', 'platform updates', 'useful resources', 'other news'. Place a 'submit' button at the bottom. Beautify the HTML with a pleasing design and proper formatting. Return the result as a JSON object labeled “html”

Step 2. Replace your current code with the received result.

replace code in one click

Step 3: Initiate your new scenario once.

The JavaScript module will return the "html" JSON object suitable for webhook responses Besides this, switch the content type parameter to text/html to display the form correctly through our input webhook.

setup of a webhook response

Now, when you call your webhook URL in your browser, a form for composing emails (as shown before) greets you! 🎉

Step 4. Data Submission.

All that remains is to ensure the data collected via the form gets relayed to another scenario's webhook for further processing. Of course, we won’t be coding this manually.

Our request to merge additional code into the existing one

Now, our form becomes fully functional, ready to receive input. You can channel these captured values to another scenario.

Demonstration of information received on another webhook

Scenario #2: Access to NPM Packages

There are now over 1.2 million NPM packages (pre-built apps for devs to integrate into their code). Latenode's AI assistant offers you access to these. Suppose you require the current USD/EUR exchange rate for multi-currency trading to provide updated info for your website visitors. Instead of struggling with locating the right API and sifting through documentation, phrase your request like this:

our request to build a script

Achieving the right result might take a couple of tries: occasional errors or empty return values can occur. The key is to remember that debugging isn't your chore. Ask the AI to integrate console.log for a detailed server response. Then, Report any issue back to the AI chat, and you'll have the revised code in no time.

Scenario #3: Data Transformation

Struggling with data transformation tasks? Say goodbye to those hassles, especially ones like date formatting. We all know how one system may spit out a date in "YYYY-MM-DD" format, but another might require it in “DD MMMM YYYY”.

our request to AI

Using the code, a date received through a webhook in the format '2023-07-11' would look like this:

proof of AI's result

Likewise, the AI can assist in manipulating strings, aggregating data, filtering, sorting, transforming, merging, splitting, de-duping, conducting statistical analysis, and even textual analysis.

Alternative Mode of Use

In our discussion so far, we approached the assistant via a dialog box. But there's another approach, especially useful for a focused code segment debug or when you need an explanation about code functionality:

request for code explanation

The Low-Code Enthusiasts Community

Our community is bustling with activity. As the wave of low-code solutions gathers pace, professionals are joining our chat. We value feedback immensely, and our team is ever-ready to answer your curiosities!

Join us at latenode.com and become a part of our Discord community!

Also published here.