AI Coding Skills - Practical AI Skills for Java Developers

Overview

AI Coding Skills is an open-source initiative I started to make AI-assisted software development more practical for developers working with established programming languages and frameworks.

New coding models and agents are appearing quickly, but developers still need reliable guidance for applying them to real applications.

A model may understand Java syntax, REST APIs, Maven, testing, and databases. That does not necessarily mean it understands the current conventions of a specific framework.

For example, when building a Helidon application, an AI coding assistant must understand:

• the difference between Helidon SE and Helidon MP
• current Helidon 4 APIs
• Java 21 and later practices
• HttpService and HttpRules for Helidon SE
• Jakarta REST and CDI for Helidon MP
• migration from older javax.* and Helidon 3 patterns
• framework-specific testing, configuration, persistence, security, and observability

AI Coding Skills packages this type of knowledge into reusable skills that coding assistants can load while helping developers build software.

Initial Focus

The project initially focuses on AI-assisted Java development across:

• GitHub Copilot
• Grok Build
• Claude Code

The first supported Java frameworks include:

• Helidon
• Spring Boot
• Jetty

The project is designed to expand through community-created and community-reviewed skills, plugins, examples, prompts, and instructions.

Helidon Skill for GitHub Copilot

I created the java-helidon skill for GitHub Copilot and contributed it to GitHub’s Awesome Copilot project.

The contribution was reviewed and merged into the Awesome Copilot repository.

The skill helps GitHub Copilot work with:

• Helidon 4
• Helidon SE
• Helidon MP
• Java 21+
• HTTP services and Jakarta REST
• configuration
• persistence
• testing
• security
• observability
• Helidon 3 to Helidon 4 migration

gh skills install github/awesome-copilot java-helidon

Java Helidon Skill: https://awesome-copilot.github.com/skill/java-helidon/

Merged contribution: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/pull/2306

Helidon Skill for Grok Build

I also developed a Helidon best-practices skill for Grok Build as part of the community-maintained Java plugin.

The plugin gives Grok framework-specific guidance for generating and reviewing Helidon 4 applications.

It supports:

• Helidon SE and Helidon MP
• modern Java application structure
• HTTP routing
• Jakarta REST
• configuration
• testing
• persistence
• security
• observability
• migration from older Helidon APIs

Repository: https://github.com/AI-Coding-Skills/Java-for-Grok

Example Workflow

Using the java-helidon skill, bootstrap a Helidon 4 SE application
using Java 21 and Maven.

Create a customer service with:

- GET /customers/{id}
- POST /customers
- a focused HttpService
- a separate service layer
- immutable request and response records
- application.yaml configuration
- health checks
- JUnit 5 tests
- HTTP integration tests

Build the project and fix all compilation and test failures.

The skill gives the coding assistant the Helidon-specific context, while the prompt defines the application requirement.

Project Goals

AI Coding Skills aims to:

• convert framework knowledge into reusable AI coding skills
• improve the quality of AI-generated Java applications
• reduce outdated or mixed framework patterns
• provide runnable examples instead of only abstract instructions
• support multiple coding assistants without tying framework knowledge to one vendor
• create a community where developers can test and improve skills
• help framework communities make their knowledge accessible to coding agents

Project Structure

The initiative includes:

• framework-specific skill repositories
• coding-agent plugins
• runnable Java examples
• installation and usage guides
• skill testing and verification
• community discussions and proposals
• documentation at aicodingskills.dev

My Role

I founded AI Coding Skills and currently contribute to:

• project direction and architecture
• Java framework skills
• GitHub Copilot integrations
• Grok Build integrations
• Helidon guidance and examples
• contributor documentation
• community development

Technologies

Current Implementations

GitHub Copilot

• java-helidon
• Helidon SE and MP guidance
• merged into GitHub Awesome Copilot
• installable through GitHub CLI

Grok Build

• helidon-best-practices
• springboot-best-practices
• packaged through the Java for Grok plugin
• includes runnable Java examples

What Comes Next

Planned work includes:

• additional Helidon bootstrap examples
• Jetty skills and examples
• broader Spring Boot coverage
• Claude Code support
• repeatable skill verification
• framework migration skills
• security and testing skills
• community contribution templates
• additional Java framework integrations

Resources

AI Coding Skills Website: https://aicodingskills.dev/

AI Coding Skills on GitHub: https://github.com/AI-Coding-Skills

Java Helidon Skill: https://awesome-copilot.github.com/skill/java-helidon/

Merged Awesome Copilot Contribution: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/pull/2306

Java for Grok: https://github.com/AI-Coding-Skills/Java-for-Grok