Yea I’m sure when Google came out “Real Programmers” were angry at all these people just looking up solutions to their coding issues, and using Stack Overflow instead of studying the API or books.
Only to be replaced by people that embraced the new technology.
Only to be replaced by people that embraced the new technology.
I think you have to make a distinction here:
It makes a huge difference whether you know what you’re doing and can work more efficiently thanks to the new technology… or whether you have no idea and think the new technology is a magic wand that can solve everything (which you only think because you have no clue about the subject and therefore believe that whatever the new technology produces is good or desirable).
To stick with your example: Someone who couldn’t code before didn’t suddenly learn how to do it on their own just because of StackOverflow; it just made things easier for people who already had some knowledge but were simply lacking the specific know-how.
In this case, I’d cautiously assume that Torvald can judge what makes sense (within his area of expertise) and what doesn’t.
I think that is still true today with AI just to a lesser degree.
After google many people could copy templates, change a few things and boom they “Built a Website”
It’s pretty obvious when someone who has no clue, just used AI to slop out code or something.
And it’s often riddled with bugs and issues.
Where as someone with say 10+ Years experience in coding, can use AI to do their job a lot faster and better, and denying that is delusional and you will fall behind - !RemindMe 5 years
Eg. I can just throw my error logs and repo at a local hosted AI, and it will find the bug significantly faster than I would have.
Having an AI help you code is like getting your six-year-old to help you put a shelf on the wall. Undirected, they’re just going to make a huge mess for you to clean up later. Given specific tasks within their abilities, they can actually make it both go faster and be an altogether more pleasant experience.
With direction and an operator who knows its limits, AI can be used to semi-automate many boring tasks. One of the things I’ve got set up in some of my open source projects is an LLM that takes bug reports and turns them into regression tests. I don’t always end up committing the AI-generated test (sometimes it’s very slow and I can better pinpoint the behaviour and target a test at that), but it helps because I don’t have to do that scaffolding myself, and I can just immediately jump into a debugger.
If you don’t have new junior devs learning how it all works through trials by fire, we’re going to be the last generation of senior devs.
I like llms, they’re interesting and can be a real force multiplier. They let you skip the unimportant details and build bigger and faster. You design the system and focus on the architecture, and you get pretty great results
But you can also leave it all up to the ai and create things that no one understands. They’re also not going away
But I don’t know how we go forward from here. My best idea is that we make it illegal to provide llm access as a service - maybe everyone who uses one should have to set up their stack themselves. It’s not a perfect solution, but at least everyone who uses them will have to learn them like they would any other tool in their toolbox
I don’t fear AI in the slightest, but I do fear the ways we’re using it as a species
No, just make it illegal. Actually doing it would be pretty straightforward. Fine them, make card processors drop them, make them unable to make money in our country
If someone overseas wants to burn money providing free llm access, who cares? If someone sets up a VPN or let’s their friends use their stack, who cares?
Those are just drops in the bucket. I’m not making a moral argument or something, I’m talking population level outcomes
Fall behind what
Every single one of you is behind the best coders in the world. Guess you should just give up and take on crochet or pickleball
You’re behind, why bother
I’m sure I’m also behind the best cyclists in the world, and having a basket on my bike might make it slower, but it’s way more enjoyable and functional for me that way.
And it better serves my purpose, sure I’m not going to win any races, but I never wanted that in the first place.
Except that a basket isn’t analogous of AI, a smoky two-stroke engine that pollutes the air with unburned fuel and oil mix is. And your reliance on the engine will atrophy your legs lol
You’re on the slow-roll group ride saying you need an engine to keep up and we’re looking at you with disgust because you’re so loud and we can’t breathe.
Yea I’m sure when Google came out “Real Programmers” were angry at all these people just looking up solutions to their coding issues, and using Stack Overflow instead of studying the API or books.
Only to be replaced by people that embraced the new technology.
I think you have to make a distinction here:
It makes a huge difference whether you know what you’re doing and can work more efficiently thanks to the new technology… or whether you have no idea and think the new technology is a magic wand that can solve everything (which you only think because you have no clue about the subject and therefore believe that whatever the new technology produces is good or desirable).
To stick with your example: Someone who couldn’t code before didn’t suddenly learn how to do it on their own just because of StackOverflow; it just made things easier for people who already had some knowledge but were simply lacking the specific know-how.
In this case, I’d cautiously assume that Torvald can judge what makes sense (within his area of expertise) and what doesn’t.
I think that is still true today with AI just to a lesser degree.
After google many people could copy templates, change a few things and boom they “Built a Website”
It’s pretty obvious when someone who has no clue, just used AI to slop out code or something. And it’s often riddled with bugs and issues.
Where as someone with say 10+ Years experience in coding, can use AI to do their job a lot faster and better, and denying that is delusional and you will fall behind - !RemindMe 5 years
Eg. I can just throw my error logs and repo at a local hosted AI, and it will find the bug significantly faster than I would have.
Presies.
Having an AI help you code is like getting your six-year-old to help you put a shelf on the wall. Undirected, they’re just going to make a huge mess for you to clean up later. Given specific tasks within their abilities, they can actually make it both go faster and be an altogether more pleasant experience.
With direction and an operator who knows its limits, AI can be used to semi-automate many boring tasks. One of the things I’ve got set up in some of my open source projects is an LLM that takes bug reports and turns them into regression tests. I don’t always end up committing the AI-generated test (sometimes it’s very slow and I can better pinpoint the behaviour and target a test at that), but it helps because I don’t have to do that scaffolding myself, and I can just immediately jump into a debugger.
Yeah, but therein lies the problem
If you don’t have new junior devs learning how it all works through trials by fire, we’re going to be the last generation of senior devs.
I like llms, they’re interesting and can be a real force multiplier. They let you skip the unimportant details and build bigger and faster. You design the system and focus on the architecture, and you get pretty great results
But you can also leave it all up to the ai and create things that no one understands. They’re also not going away
But I don’t know how we go forward from here. My best idea is that we make it illegal to provide llm access as a service - maybe everyone who uses one should have to set up their stack themselves. It’s not a perfect solution, but at least everyone who uses them will have to learn them like they would any other tool in their toolbox
I don’t fear AI in the slightest, but I do fear the ways we’re using it as a species
Are we gonna set up a Great Firewall to block providers in other countries too? And VPNs, and all the other fun stuff.
No, just make it illegal. Actually doing it would be pretty straightforward. Fine them, make card processors drop them, make them unable to make money in our country
If someone overseas wants to burn money providing free llm access, who cares? If someone sets up a VPN or let’s their friends use their stack, who cares?
Those are just drops in the bucket. I’m not making a moral argument or something, I’m talking population level outcomes
Fall behind what
Every single one of you is behind the best coders in the world. Guess you should just give up and take on crochet or pickleball
You’re behind, why bother
There are thousands of professional football teams that are behind the UEFA top 10, why do they even bother?
Yes, exactly. That’s what i said.
I’m sure I’m also behind the best cyclists in the world, and having a basket on my bike might make it slower, but it’s way more enjoyable and functional for me that way.
And it better serves my purpose, sure I’m not going to win any races, but I never wanted that in the first place.
Except that a basket isn’t analogous of AI, a smoky two-stroke engine that pollutes the air with unburned fuel and oil mix is. And your reliance on the engine will atrophy your legs lol
You’re on the slow-roll group ride saying you need an engine to keep up and we’re looking at you with disgust because you’re so loud and we can’t breathe.
My analogy is fine, you waisted it, but Lol Funny enough, I love 2 strokes.
I’d rather rip it on my KTM down a single track any day of the week rather than suffering slowly on a road bike.
Both are a workout, only one is really a full body workout, way more fun and comes with adrenaline.
until he fell into the slop vat and came out sloppified
im old enough to know this is exactly what happened