Comment by jaredcwhite
8 months ago
Doesn't matter today? What are you even talking about? It completely matters if the code you write is yours. The only people saying otherwise have fallen prey to the cult of slop.
8 months ago
Doesn't matter today? What are you even talking about? It completely matters if the code you write is yours. The only people saying otherwise have fallen prey to the cult of slop.
Why does it matter where the code came from if it is correct?
I really hope you're not a software engineer and saying this. But just as a lighting round of issues.
1. code can be correct but non-performant, be it in time or space. A lot of my domain is fixing "correct" code so it's actually of value.
2. code can be correct, but unmaintainable. If you ever need to update that code, you are adding immense tech debt with code you do not understand.
3. code can be correct, but not fit standards. Non-standard code can be anywhere from harder to read, to subtly buggy with some gnarly effects farther down the line.
4. code can be correct, but insecure. I really hope cryptographers and netsec aren't using AI for anymore than generating keys.
5. code can be correct, but not correct in the larger scheme of the legacy code.
6. code can be correct, but legally vulnerable. A rare, but expensive edge case that may come up as courts catch up to LLM's.
7. and lastly (but certainly not limited to), code can be correct. But people can be incorrect, change their whims and requirements, or otherwise add layers to navigate through making the product. This leads more back to #2, but it's important to remember that as engineers we are working with imperfect actors and non-optimal conditions. Our job isn't just to "make correct code", it's to navigate the business and keep everyone aligned on the mission from a technical perspective.
This is a straw man. Consider that from my perspective, each of your points amount to saying "code can be correct, but incorrect" (take a look at number 5) and you may realize that your argument does not make any sense:
1. If code is "correct" but non-performant when it needs to be performant, then it's not correct.
2. If code is "correct" but unmaintainable when it needs to be maintainable, then it's not correct.
3. If code is "correct" but does not fit standards when it needs to fit standards, then it's not correct.
4. If code is "correct" but not secure when it needs to be secure, then it's not correct.
5. If code is "correct" but not correct when it needs to be correct, then it's not correct.
6. If code is "correct" but legally risky when it needs to be legally not risky, then it's not correct.
7. If code is "correct" but people think it's incorrect when they need to think it's correct, then it's not correct.
The person who submits the code for code review is effectively asserting that the code meets the quality standards of the project to which they are submitting the code. If it doesn't meet those standards, then it's not correct.
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Why does it matter where the paint came from if it looks pretty?
Why does it matter where the legal claims came from if a judge accepts them?
Why does it matter where the sound waves came from if it sounds catchy?
Why does it matter?
Why does anything matter?
Sorry, I normally love debating epistemology but not here on Hacker News. :)
I understand the points about aesthetics but not law; the judge is there to interpret legal arguments and a lawyer who presents an argument with false premises, like a fabricated case, is being irresponsible. It is very similar with coding, except the judge is a PM.
It does not seem to matter where the code nor the legal argument came from. What matters is that they are coherent.
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