Generative AI for Software Development Skill Certificate Course Syllabus

Overview: This skill certificate course, developed by DeepLearning.AI and taught by Laurence Moroney, is designed to help software developers integrate generative AI into their daily workflows. With approximately 32 hours of content across three focused courses, learners will gain hands-on experience using large language models (LLMs) for real-world development tasks such as coding, testing, debugging, and system design. The curriculum emphasizes practical application through projects that simulate AI collaboration in software engineering, making it ideal for developers looking to enhance productivity and code quality. Lifetime access ensures ongoing learning and reference.

Module 1: Introduction to Generative AI for Software Development

Estimated time: 8 hours

• Understand how LLMs work and their role in software development
• Integrate generative AI across the software development lifecycle
• Learn the fundamentals of prompt engineering for coding tasks
• Prototype and iterate code features using AI assistance

Module 2: Team Software Engineering with AI

Estimated time: 13 hours

• Leverage LLMs to enhance team collaboration and code consistency
• Generate comprehensive unit tests and integration tests with AI
• Automate documentation generation for codebases
• Debug and manage complex dependencies using AI-powered tools

Module 3: AI-Powered Software and System Design

Estimated time: 11 hours

• Design robust software architectures with AI guidance
• Build and optimize databases using generative AI recommendations
• Apply advanced design patterns for maintainability and security
• Implement AI-driven solutions for scalable system design

Module 4: AI Pair Programming and Code Optimization

Estimated time: 6 hours

• Practice AI pair programming for faster development cycles
• Refactor and optimize code with real-time AI feedback
• Identify and fix bugs using LLM-powered debugging techniques

Module 5: Real-World AI Integration Scenarios

Estimated time: 5 hours

• Simulate AI collaboration in testing and deployment workflows
• Manage technical debt with AI-assisted code reviews
• Handle edge cases in AI-generated code for production readiness

Module 6: Final Project

Estimated time: 10 hours

• Develop a full software feature using AI as a pair programmer
• Generate and execute test suites with AI support
• Document and refactor the implementation for maintainability

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with software development concepts and coding practices
• Experience in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, JavaScript)
• Basic understanding of version control systems like Git

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Effectively use LLMs to accelerate coding, testing, and debugging tasks
• Collaborate with AI as a virtual pair programmer to improve productivity
• Design secure and maintainable software systems using AI guidance
• Generate high-quality documentation and test cases automatically
• Integrate generative AI into real-world software development workflows