Chinthaka Sandaruwan tells us more about his experience in software development and shares his thoughts on AI and the future. Look at our article and find out more about it! 

1. Who is Sandaruwan? Can you start by telling me a little about yourself?

I’m a Software Engineering Professional with over 18 years of experience in building large-scale enterprise applications, distributed systems, Big Data platforms, and cloud-native solutions. My work has primarily focused on real-time and batch data processing, event-driven architectures, and transforming legacy systems into scalable, modern architectures.

I’ve played a key role in planning, designing architecture, and working across all layers backend, frontend, and data. My experience in cloud-native solutions includes AWS Cloud, Kubernetes, serverless computing, and containerized microservices, helping businesses build efficient, cost-effective, and scalable applications.

Beyond the technical work, I enjoy mentoring engineers, collaborating with different teams, and solving complex challenges that drive business success.

2. What kind of projects do you typically work on, and what technologies do you use the most?

Over the years, I’ve worked on a variety of projects in industries like booking & reservations,restaurant PoS & online order management, payroll, supply chain, ERP, e-commerce platforms, IoT, and AML (Anti-Money Laundering).

I’ve been involved in end-to-end solution design & planning, architecture, developing, implementation, and integrations, ensuring seamless and efficient systems that align with business needs.

I primarily work with Java, Python, and Scala for backend development. On the frontend side. I’ve worked with ReactJS and Node.js to create smooth and efficient user experiences. 

For Big Data, I use Apache Spark, Kafka, Hadoop, Apache Beam, Flink, and Airflow for processing, orchestration, and analytics.

On the cloud-native front, I have hands-on experience with AWS services, Kubernetes, and serverless computing, ensuring applications are optimized for scalability, performance, and cost efficiency.

AI and the power of development tools

3. Have you had any experience working with AI-powered development tools?

Yes, I’ve used GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT to help automate repetitive coding tasks, generate unit tests, and speed up development. They’re great tools for improving productivity and reducing time spent on boilerplate code.

4. How do you feel about AI handling more complex tasks like debugging, testing, or even designing software architecture?

AI is definitely useful, especially for unit test generation, debugging, and code suggestions. It can spot patterns and potential issues quickly, which helps speed up the development process.

When it comes to architecture and complex system design, AI can assist, but it still lacks the ability to make high-level trade-offs and strategic decisions. The role of AI here is more about enhancing efficiency rather than replacing human expertise.

5. Have you worked with AI-powered DevOps or CI/CD tools?

Not extensively, but I see a lot of potential in AI-driven DevOps tools. AI can optimize CI/CD pipelines, predict failures, and even automate infrastructure scaling based on workload demands. Unlike traditional automation, AI can dynamically adapt and make real-time optimizations, which makes deployments more efficient.

Another interesting area is AI-powered cost optimization for cloud services. There are tools available that can analyze cloud usage and recommend cost-saving strategies, helping businesses avoid unnecessary expenses while maintaining performance.

6. Do you believe AI can eventually replace human developers for certain  coding tasks?

AI won’t replace developers, but it will automate repetitive coding, debugging, and testing tasks, making engineers more productive.

However, developers who don’t adapt and learn how to leverage AI in their daily work will be replaced by those who do. The industry is evolving fast, and developers who understand 

AI tools, prompt engineering, and how to integrate AI into their workflow will have a huge Advantage.

In the future, AI will be a must-have tool for developers, not a replacement. Those who embrace it and learn how to use it effectively will be the ones leading the industry.

Conclusion

We know artificial intelligence arrived to change the world and facilitated many things. But, we need to be careful with the use. Technology develops fast, we have to adapt, but anything could replace human intelligence.

And you, what do you think about AI and the future power of development tools?