Comment by xarope

3 days ago

I think this for me is the most worrying: "You can see that for AI Allowed tasks, developers spent less time researching and writing code".

My analogy to this is seeing people spend time trying to figure out how to change colors, draw shapes in powerpoint, rather than focus on the content and presentation. So here, we have developers now focusing their efforts on correcting the AI output, rather than doing the research and improving their ability to deliver code in the future.

Hmm...

11 comments

xarope

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skissane  3 days ago

I find I’m most likely to use an LLM to generate code in certain specific scenarios: (i) times I’m suffering from “writer’s block” or “having trouble getting started”; (ii) a language or framework I don’t normally use; (iii) feeling tired/burnt out/demotivated

When I’m in the “zone” I wouldn’t go near an LLM, but when I’ve fallen out of the “zone” they can be useful tools in getting me back into it, or just finishing that one extra thing before signing off for the day

I think the right answer to “does LLM use help or hinder developer productivity” is “it depends on how you use them”

seanmcdirmid  3 days ago

It can get over some mental blocks, having some code to look at can start the idea process even it’s wrong (just like for writing). I don’t think it’s bad, like I don’t think writing throw away code for prototyping is a bad way to start a project that you aren’t sure how to tackle. Waterfall (lots of research and design up front) is still not going to work even if you forgo AI.

hammyhavoc  3 days ago

This has been my observation too. It's a tool for the lazy.

  • jack_pp  2 days ago

    You can say the same about a printer. Or a kindle, oh you're too lazy to carry around 5 books with you?

    • hammyhavoc  2 days ago

      Uh, no you can't.

      > I think this for me is the most worrying: "You can see that for AI Allowed tasks, developers spent less time researching and writing code".

      A Kindle is exactly the kind of device you would research and educate yourself via and the quantity of books has nothing to do with the reading of them or contents thereof. Terrible comparison.