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Using GPT-4 has significantly enhanced the efficiency of my work. My focus is primarily on developing straightforward PHP CRUD applications for addressing probl

Using GPT-4 has significantly enhanced the efficiency of my work. My focus is primarily on developing straightforward PHP CRUD applications for addressing problems in my day-to-day job. These applications are simple, and don't use frameworks and MVC structures, which makes the code generated by GPT-4, based on my precise instructions, easy to comprehend and usually functional right out of the prompt. I find if I listen to the users needs I can make something that addresses a pain point easily. I often request modifications to code segments, typically around 25 lines, to alter the reporting features to meet specific needs, such as group X and total Y on this page. GPT-4 responds accurately to these requests. After conducting a quick QA and test, the task is complete. This approach has been transformative, particularly effective for low-complexity tasks and clear-cut directives. This process reminds me of how a senior programmer might delegate: breaking down tasks into fundamental components for a junior coder to execute. In my case, GPT-4 acts as the junior programmer, providing valuable assistance at a modest cost of $20 per month. I happily pay that out of pocket to save myself time. However, much like how a younger version of myself asked why we had to learn math if the calculator does it for us, I know understand why we do that. I think the same thing applies here. If you don't know the fundamentals, you won't be effective. If GPT-4 had been around when I learned to write PHP (don't @ me!), I probably wouldn't understand the fundamentals as well as I do. I have the benefit of learning how to do it before it was a thing, and then benefitting from the new tool being available. I also don't find the code quality to be any less, if anything what it spits out is a bit more polished (sometimes!).

hackernewds 3y ago
precisely. we are very lucky to be during the timeline where ChatGPT was released during our later years, that we didn't have to compete with auto created code during our learning formative years.
- WanderPanda 3y ago
  This sounds like motivated reasoning to me. Having an above-average personal tutor that doesn't get mad or tired 24/7 every time seems like a big multiplier
  - quonn 3y ago
    It‘s the Duolingo of software engineering. Real understanding requires real effort.
  - Aeolun 3y ago
    Just because they’re better than you does not mean they’re above average. Though standards have been going down, so maybe you are right.
- bee_rider 3y ago
  Eh, you could say it about compilers, then optimizing compilers… unless they are on their way to the post-scarcity world, the next generation will figure out a way to take advantage of new tools. Sure, lots of things will change, but people will adapt. I’d be more worried if I was somebody like Squarespace. When anybody can say “build me a neat looking website,” the business of selling templates looks rough.
  - kromem 3y ago
    Or it just means Squarespace has to pivot and extend their product offerings. Spend a bit in R&D to make sure they have a lock on ease of use at gen AI website building/modification, ideally starting from base templates and that's plug and play with their existing CMS. If anything, doing that could even increase their market share to users for whom simple templating was either (a) not enough, or (b) still too complex without additional handholding. For pretty much everyone, generative AI is a threat to those who stagnate in the status quo and an opportunity to those actively seeking growth and ever improved product market fit.
- NoPicklez 3y ago
  I can see both points. But I agree with this one more so, I did programming as part of my Comp Sci degree and my job doesn't require any programming. I didn't particularly like programming and would end up with 20+ tabs of various questions being asked with most of my time spend finding an answer to my question having to troll through what was often the cesspool of stackoverflow. But having a tool where I can ask it questions about my code, code in general is hugely beneficial. I can write a block of code, or have it write a block of code, then have it explain to me how it's meant to be working. If I don't understand a particular component I can contextually ask it more questions. I appreciate the expectation of code quality is higher in production, but from a personal learning standpoint for a learner its great.
therealdrag0 3y ago
How do you interface with it? Are you pasting chunks of code into chat? Or just describing new code to write and then giving it feedback to rewrite it? Or something else?
kromem 3y ago
Yeah, a lot of times it has better code quality, but more subtle bugs than what I'd be prone to produce. I think a lot of the criticisms are premature, and it's more a stumbling step forward with need for support from additional infrastructure. Where's the linter integration so it doesn't spit out a result that won't compile? Where's the automatic bug check and fix for low hanging fruit errors? What should testing look like or change around in a gen AI development environment? In general, is there something like TDD or BDD that is going to be a better procedural approach to maximizing the gains to be had while minimizing the costs? A lot of the past year or two has been dropping a significant jump and change in tech into existing workflows. Like any tool, there's the capabilities of the tool itself and the experience of the one wielding it that come together to make the outcome. The industry needs a lot more experience and wisdom around incorporation of gen AI in development before we'll realistically have a sense of its net worth. I'd say another 2-3 years at least - not because the tech will take that long to adapt, but because that's how long the humans will take to have sufficiently adapted.
elendee 3y ago
this is you though, as opposed to the new paradigm of coding that is threatening to be ushered in. "Generate code, test, fail, regenerate, test...". Without ever breaking down constituent parts. I already worked with a team of 20 something's who were generating mountains of full stack spaghetti on top of the basic CRUD framework I built them. There's lessening incentive to build your TODO app from scratch when you can generate an "MMO framework" in 60 seconds. The same way I first used firebase 12 years ago before trying to learn the basics of relational, and it was years before I finally arrived at the basics.

hackernewds 3y ago

precisely. we are very lucky to be during the timeline where ChatGPT was released during our later years, that we didn't have to compete with auto created code during our learning formative years.

WanderPanda 3y ago
This sounds like motivated reasoning to me. Having an above-average personal tutor that doesn't get mad or tired 24/7 every time seems like a big multiplier
- quonn 3y ago
  It‘s the Duolingo of software engineering. Real understanding requires real effort.
- Aeolun 3y ago
  Just because they’re better than you does not mean they’re above average. Though standards have been going down, so maybe you are right.
bee_rider 3y ago
Eh, you could say it about compilers, then optimizing compilers… unless they are on their way to the post-scarcity world, the next generation will figure out a way to take advantage of new tools. Sure, lots of things will change, but people will adapt. I’d be more worried if I was somebody like Squarespace. When anybody can say “build me a neat looking website,” the business of selling templates looks rough.
- kromem 3y ago
  Or it just means Squarespace has to pivot and extend their product offerings. Spend a bit in R&D to make sure they have a lock on ease of use at gen AI website building/modification, ideally starting from base templates and that's plug and play with their existing CMS. If anything, doing that could even increase their market share to users for whom simple templating was either (a) not enough, or (b) still too complex without additional handholding. For pretty much everyone, generative AI is a threat to those who stagnate in the status quo and an opportunity to those actively seeking growth and ever improved product market fit.
NoPicklez 3y ago
I can see both points. But I agree with this one more so, I did programming as part of my Comp Sci degree and my job doesn't require any programming. I didn't particularly like programming and would end up with 20+ tabs of various questions being asked with most of my time spend finding an answer to my question having to troll through what was often the cesspool of stackoverflow. But having a tool where I can ask it questions about my code, code in general is hugely beneficial. I can write a block of code, or have it write a block of code, then have it explain to me how it's meant to be working. If I don't understand a particular component I can contextually ask it more questions. I appreciate the expectation of code quality is higher in production, but from a personal learning standpoint for a learner its great.

therealdrag0 3y ago

How do you interface with it? Are you pasting chunks of code into chat? Or just describing new code to write and then giving it feedback to rewrite it? Or something else?

kromem 3y ago

Yeah, a lot of times it has better code quality, but more subtle bugs than what I'd be prone to produce. I think a lot of the criticisms are premature, and it's more a stumbling step forward with need for support from additional infrastructure. Where's the linter integration so it doesn't spit out a result that won't compile? Where's the automatic bug check and fix for low hanging fruit errors? What should testing look like or change around in a gen AI development environment? In general, is there something like TDD or BDD that is going to be a better procedural approach to maximizing the gains to be had while minimizing the costs? A lot of the past year or two has been dropping a significant jump and change in tech into existing workflows. Like any tool, there's the capabilities of the tool itself and the experience of the one wielding it that come together to make the outcome. The industry needs a lot more experience and wisdom around incorporation of gen AI in development before we'll realistically have a sense of its net worth. I'd say another 2-3 years at least - not because the tech will take that long to adapt, but because that's how long the humans will take to have sufficiently adapted.

elendee 3y ago

this is you though, as opposed to the new paradigm of coding that is threatening to be ushered in. "Generate code, test, fail, regenerate, test...". Without ever breaking down constituent parts. I already worked with a team of 20 something's who were generating mountains of full stack spaghetti on top of the basic CRUD framework I built them. There's lessening incentive to build your TODO app from scratch when you can generate an "MMO framework" in 60 seconds. The same way I first used firebase 12 years ago before trying to learn the basics of relational, and it was years before I finally arrived at the basics.