Comment by its-kostya
7 days ago
I am quite skeptical and reserved when it comes to AI, particularly as it relates to impacts of the next generation of engineers. But using AI to learn a code base has been life-changing. Using a crutch to feel your way around. Then ditching the crutch when things are familiar, like using a map until you learn the road yourself.
Super useful, indeed. My only fear is that at times it can lead to superficial understanding. You don't get the satisfying click of all pieces, just a surface level understanding. I find that once AI gives me the lay of the land I still need to deep dive myself, but I can take shortcuts I would have never taken and it feels live traversing the scenery with a map. Pretty nifty!
I think it is possible to use AI in a way that ends up with understanding and very easy to use it in a way where nothing at all sticks. Vibe coders by definition know or understand 0% of their codebase but you can use AI in a more questioning manner where you can get answers that are testable, test them immediately, and add the correct answers to the context immediately while embedding a clearer picture in your mental model.
I'm about to start a new role. What have you found most effective in using it to learn a new code base? Just asking questions about "what is this class doing" ? drawing architecture diagrams?
Just ask it what naturally draws your curiosity and use it to build your mental model. I may add that our company got us enterprise subscription (so models aren't trained on our IP) so I can just point it at the entire codebase, rather than copying/pasting snippets into a chat window.
What does this program accomplish? How does it accomplish it? Walk me through the boot sequence. Where does it do ABC?
I work in a company where I frequently interact with adjacent teams' code bases. When working on a ticket that touches another system, I'll typically tell it what I'm working on and ask it to point me to areas in the code that are responsible for that capability and which tests exercise that code. This is a great head start for me. I then start "in the ball park".
I would not recommend to have it make diagrams for you. I don't know what it is but they LLMs just aren't great at coveting information into diagram form. I've had it explain, quite impressively, parts of code and when I ask it to turn that into a diagram it comes up short. Must be low on training data expressing itself in that medium. It's an okay way to get the syntax for a diagram started, however.
I wish you an auspicious time in your new role!