3 ms·

FB AI TransCoder converts code from one programming language into another

11 points by amrrs 6y ago

amrrs 6y ago
Original Paper - https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.03511.pdf https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.03511.pdf
grizzles 6y ago
Very cool. I would love to see the python science stack translated into native typescript/js. Sometimes you just want something quick and easy that doesn't require sorting through virtual env hassles.
01100011 6y ago
I feel like this is the sort of thing that could make 30% of software jobs go away overnight. I'm not worried yet, but I think the clock is ticking. I don't know if I would encourage my children to persue a programming career if they were due to graduate in 5 years. Yes, I'm old enough to remember all the other times we thought programming was a doomed profession. This feels like it could be different.
- pensatoio 6y ago
  Until we crack the nut of “creative” AI, I have zero fear of being replaced.
  - 01100011 6y ago
    You might not have to worry about it, but a good portion of programmers don't really do anything creative. It's like how in the 'old days'(2000ish), there were a lot more embedded operating systems. I spent a lot of time just rewriting things that existed on other platforms, but didn't exist on the one the customer chose. Now people generally use Linux, or some Posix compliant OS that makes porting easier. A lot of those dumb, yet high paying jobs went away. When cheap ARM systems emerged that could run Android, you no longer even needed to know C/C++ to make an embedded system. Now, just like the change that happened back then, this isn't going to eliminate all of us, but it may eliminate certain classes of work. Over 20+ years I've noticed the problems we're trying to solve generally getting more difficult, and requiring more of a CS/algorithmic background. The low level shit work is slowly going away. It's fine if you can keep up with the times. Software and systems design is still difficult. This isn't going to change that.
- syntaxing 6y ago
  Im kind of curious, let's just say a programming career is doomed, what would you recommend your children to pursue then?
  - 01100011 6y ago
    Depends on my kid. If they were mechanical, something like HVAC repair. It's the last thing that will ever be automated and last I checked it pays well.
blackbear_ 6y ago
Comment thread about the paper itself: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23463812 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23463812

11 points by amrrs 6y ago

Original Paper - https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.03511.pdf https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.03511.pdf

Very cool. I would love to see the python science stack translated into native typescript/js. Sometimes you just want something quick and easy that doesn't require sorting through virtual env hassles.

01100011 6y ago

I feel like this is the sort of thing that could make 30% of software jobs go away overnight. I'm not worried yet, but I think the clock is ticking. I don't know if I would encourage my children to persue a programming career if they were due to graduate in 5 years. Yes, I'm old enough to remember all the other times we thought programming was a doomed profession. This feels like it could be different.

pensatoio 6y ago
Until we crack the nut of “creative” AI, I have zero fear of being replaced.
- 01100011 6y ago
  You might not have to worry about it, but a good portion of programmers don't really do anything creative. It's like how in the 'old days'(2000ish), there were a lot more embedded operating systems. I spent a lot of time just rewriting things that existed on other platforms, but didn't exist on the one the customer chose. Now people generally use Linux, or some Posix compliant OS that makes porting easier. A lot of those dumb, yet high paying jobs went away. When cheap ARM systems emerged that could run Android, you no longer even needed to know C/C++ to make an embedded system. Now, just like the change that happened back then, this isn't going to eliminate all of us, but it may eliminate certain classes of work. Over 20+ years I've noticed the problems we're trying to solve generally getting more difficult, and requiring more of a CS/algorithmic background. The low level shit work is slowly going away. It's fine if you can keep up with the times. Software and systems design is still difficult. This isn't going to change that.
syntaxing 6y ago
Im kind of curious, let's just say a programming career is doomed, what would you recommend your children to pursue then?
- 01100011 6y ago
  Depends on my kid. If they were mechanical, something like HVAC repair. It's the last thing that will ever be automated and last I checked it pays well.

blackbear_ 6y ago

Comment thread about the paper itself: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23463812 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23463812