vik#1829
@TheStalwart The main thing I've learned as a programmer leaning heavily into AI tools is that programming is SO MUCH MORE than just writing code - and while I can get amazing results out of the AI it's taking every inch of my 25+ years of software experience
Many users agree with Simon Willison that programming still requires substantial experience beyond AI tools because it helps handle limitations and decisions, while others worry this shift will hurt junior developers and QA roles.
@simonw @TheStalwart The senior devs are fine, they finally get to tell their scrum masters to kick rocks.
The junior devs and QA folks tho...
@simonw @TheStalwart Have been trying to articulate what we shd do vs delegate to AI (in coding and in general) - so far I have: - Human drives: Subjective choices, choices requiring taste, all text inputs, areas of experience/expertise - Delegate to AI/vibe/Let AI drive: everything else
@simonw @TheStalwart the distinction i like to make is that llms do the job of making code work today while we as engineers do the job of making sure the code will work 6 months from now
@simonw @TheStalwart That was obvious all along to anyone paying attention. Most engineers were never spending a majority of their time writing code anyway.
@simonw @TheStalwart Writing code was never the job.
Owning that code and guaranteeing it in production is.
AI makes it easier, but ownership still requires headcounts. Writing code no longer does.
@simonw @TheStalwart True. Without that experience difficult to make the right decisions when AI gets stuck.
@simonw @TheStalwart The part teams miss is the review budget. AI can write a patch fast, but someone still has to know what tests prove it, what tradeoff is acceptable, and when to roll back. Without that judgment, “more code” just creates more things to audit.
@simonw @TheStalwart What I'm curious about is if there is more learning now or in the past. For you I think 25 yoe feeds well into continued learning. But is that true for people early in their careers?
@simonw @TheStalwart Same here.
@simonw @TheStalwart Absolutely - and now it's like having an insanely smart, fast intern who forgets half of what I taught them yesterday. My experience is what forces the AI to deliver value.
@simonw @TheStalwart They'll try to fire you anyhow.
@simonw @TheStalwart Well said
@simonw @TheStalwart This. Every inch! My experience as well.
@simonw @TheStalwart As an engineer of 45 years, I can say pretty much the same thing. I love coding with AI, but I don't know how it's possible without a lot of experience.