4 ms·

So like we went from assembler to higher level programming languages, we will now move to specifications for LLMs? Interesting thought... Maybe, once the "compi

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.

tjr 8mo ago
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.
- 9dev 8mo ago
  Then again, would anyone have guessed we’d even be seriously discussing this topic 10, 20, 40 years ago?
  - tjr 8mo ago
    Maybe. This book from 1990 https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262526401/artificial-intelligence-at-mit-volume-1/ https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262526401/artificial-intelligen... envisions a future of AI assistance that looks not too far off from today.
    - 9dev 8mo ago
      It’s also pretty close to Steve Jobs initial vision of computing in the future (https://stevejobsarchive.com/stories/objects-of-our-life 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.
- Gud 8mo ago
  Not everyone works in aerospace engineering, though. I would guess that >90% of all web crud can already be done better by an LLM managed by a decent developer, than purely by the developer himself.
Wobbles42 8mo ago
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.

tjr 8mo ago

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.

9dev 8mo ago
Then again, would anyone have guessed we’d even be seriously discussing this topic 10, 20, 40 years ago?
- tjr 8mo ago
  Maybe. This book from 1990 https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262526401/artificial-intelligence-at-mit-volume-1/ https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262526401/artificial-intelligen... envisions a future of AI assistance that looks not too far off from today.
  - 9dev 8mo ago
    It’s also pretty close to Steve Jobs initial vision of computing in the future (https://stevejobsarchive.com/stories/objects-of-our-life 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.
Gud 8mo ago
Not everyone works in aerospace engineering, though. I would guess that >90% of all web crud can already be done better by an LLM managed by a decent developer, than purely by the developer himself.

Wobbles42 8mo ago

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.