Boilerplate
Standard, repetitive code that must be included in many programs.
Boilerplate code is the basic, repetitive code that programmers often have to write over and over again when starting a new project or feature. It's like a standard template or a set of instructions that are always needed, regardless of the specific task.
For example, when setting up a new web application, you might need to write code for handling user requests, connecting to a database, or setting up basic security. This initial setup code is often boilerplate. AI tools can help generate this code automatically, saving developers time.
Boilerplate refers to sections of code that are repeated in many places with little or no alteration. This often includes setup, configuration, or standard structural elements required by a programming language, framework, or API. While necessary, boilerplate can obscure the unique logic of an application and increase maintenance overhead. Modern development tools and AI assistants aim to reduce the amount of manual boilerplate coding required.
AI coding assistants are increasingly used to automate the generation of boilerplate code, allowing developers to focus on unique application logic. Tools from Google Gemini and OpenAI are being integrated into development environments to streamline this process, making coding more efficient.
- Why Go is an Ideal Language for AI-Assisted Software EngineeringGoogle · Google Developers Blog ·
- Inside JetBrains—the company reshaping how the world writes codeOpenAI · OpenAI News ·
- Google Gemini
- Google Gemini's AI can assist in generating boilerplate code, as seen in its application to Go programming for AI-assisted software engineering.
- OpenAI ChatGPT
- OpenAI models are integrated into developer tools like JetBrains to help automate the writing of boilerplate code, boosting productivity.
- Template
- A template is a pre-designed structure that can be filled in with spec
- Library
- A library is a collection of pre-written code that provides specific fu
- Framework
- A framework provides a foundational structure for applications and di
The term 'boilerplate' originated in the printing industry, referring to metal plates used for repeated printing of text or images. In computing, it came to mean standard, reusable code sections.
Ask an AI coding assistant, like GitHub Copilot (which uses OpenAI models) or Google Gemini's coding features, to 'write a basic Python Flask web server setup'. Observe how it generates the initial files and code structure, which often includes boilerplate.
The Playbook: reusable how-tos, prompts, configs and tips pulled out of the news.
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- HeuristicDouble coding agent task completion with docs linksProviding coding agents with a documentation link significantly increases their task completion rate. · 2 min
Questions people ask
- Why is boilerplate code bad?
- Boilerplate code can make programs longer and harder to read, increasing the chance of errors and making maintenance more difficult.
- Can AI completely eliminate boilerplate?
- AI can significantly reduce the amount of boilerplate developers write, but some level of manual configuration or unique structural code may still be necessary.
First seen on Subvolts Nov 25, 2025. Updated Sep 15, 2026. Written by an AI model from the items above and reviewed against them weekly; report an error.