4 ms·
The most pertinent thought in this is where the author asks, "LLMs can generate decent-ish and correct-ish looking code while I have more time to do what? dooms
by krupan 9mo ago
The most pertinent thought in this is where the author asks, "LLMs can generate decent-ish and correct-ish looking code while I have more time to do what? doomscroll?"
LLMs are not good enough for you to set and forget. You have to stay nearby babysitting it, keeping half an eye on it. That's what's so disheartening to many of us.
In my career I have mentored junior engineers and seen them rapidly learn new things and increase their capabilities. Watching over them for a shirt while is pretty rewarding. I've also worked with contract developers who were not much better than current LLMs, and like LLMs they seemed incapable of learning directly from me. Unwilling even. They were quick to say nice words like, "ok, I understand, I'll do it differently next time," but then they didn't change at all. Those were some of the most frustrating times in my career. That's the feeling I get when using LLMs for writing code.
- spicyusername 9mo agowhile I have more time to do what? For work, I regularly have 2-4 agents going simultaneously, churning on 1-3 features, bug fixes, doc updates. I pop between them in the "down time", or am reviewing their output, or am preparing the requirements for the next thing, or am reviewing my coworkers MRs. Plenty to do that isn't doom scrolling.
- lazyfolder 9mo agoOut of curiousity, how do you manage the constant context switching? It's hard for me to manage the context of one coding session, let along 2-4 sessions.
- spicyusername 9mo agoI usually don't find it too bad. I don't need to focus as much on the nitty gritty the whole time, which is where context switching really gets you. Once you get to the review stage is where the focus is really needed and the context switching pauses. That being said, it's definitely a different workflow from just getting in the zone and coding for four straight hours.
- lazyfolder 9mo agoI had a colleague liken an LLM to an intern and I didn't agree with that because with a human intern you are invested in their success and there's a joy in watching them grow (when they are willing to). LLMs can't grow.