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You can’t drop anything as long as a programmer is expected to edit the source code directly. Good luck investigating a bug when the code is unclear semantically, or updating a piece correctly when you’re not really sure it’s the only instance.

by tjr3 hours ago|

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I think that's the question. Is a programmer expected to ever touch the source code? Or will AI -- and AI alone -- update the code that it generated?

Not entirely unlike other code generation mechanisms, such as tools for generating HTML based on a graphical design. A human could edit that, but it may not have been the intent. The intent was that, if you want a change, go back to the GUI editor and regenerate the HTML.

by bornfreddy2 hours ago|

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So like we went from assembler to higher level programming languages, we will now move to specifications for LLMs? Interesting thought... Maybe, once the "compilers" get good enough, but for mission critical systems they are not nearly good enough yet.

by Wobbles4224 minutes ago|

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This is exactly what is happening from a levels of abstraction standpoint.

The difference being that compilers and related tools are deterministic, and we can manage the outputs using mathematical proof of correctness.

The LLM's driving this new abstraction layer are another beast entirely.

by tjr2 hours ago|

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Right. I work in aerospace software, and I do not know if this option would ever be on the table. It certainly isn't now.

So I think this question needs to be asked in the context of particular projects, not as an industry-wide yes or no answer. Does your particular project still need humans involved at the code level? Even just for review? If so, then you probably ought to retain human-oriented software design and coding techniques. If not, then, whatever. Doesn't matter. Aim for whatever efficiency metric you like.

by 9dev1 hours ago|

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Then again, would anyone have guessed we’d even be seriously discussing this topic 10, 20, 40 years ago?

by tjr1 hours ago|

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Maybe. This book from 1990

https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262526401/artificial-intelligen...

envisions a future of AI assistance that looks not too far off from today.

by 9dev21 minutes ago|

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It’s also pretty close to Steve Jobs initial vision of computing in the future (https://stevejobsarchive.com/stories/objects-of-our-life, 1983) but my point is that whatever it is we call AI now became reality so much faster than anyone really saw coming. Even if the pace slows down, and it didn’t yet, things are improving so massively all the time that the world can’t keep up changing to accommodate.