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> Don't know, whatever VS Code's bot uses The reason I ask about what model is I initially dismissed AI generated code because I was not impressed with the mod

> Don't know, whatever VS Code's bot uses The reason I ask about what model is I initially dismissed AI generated code because I was not impressed with the models I was trying. I decided if I was going to evaluate it fairly though, I would need to try a paid product. I ended up using Claude Sonnet 4.5, which is much better than the quick-n-cheap models. I still don't use Claude for large stuff, but it's pretty good at one-off scripts and providing advice. Chances are VS Code is using a crappy model by default. > no idea what those are or why I have to care For the difference between chat mode and agent mode, chat mode is the online interface where you can ask it questions, but you have to copy the code back and forth. Agent mode is where it's running an interface layer on your computer, so the LLM can view files, run commands, save files, etc. I use Claude in agent mode via Claude Code, though I still check and approve every command it runs. It also won't change any files without your permission by default. AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md are pretty much a file that the LLM agent reads every time it starts up. It's where you put your style guide in, and also where you have suggestions to correct things it consistently messes up on. It's not as important at the beginning, but it's helpful for me to have it be consistent about its style (well, as consistent as I can get it). Here's an example from a project I'm currently working on: https://github.com/smj-edison/zicl/blob/main/CLAUDE.md https://github.com/smj-edison/zicl/blob/main/CLAUDE.md I know there's lots of other things you can do, like create custom tools, things to run every time, subagents, plan mode, etc. I haven't ever really tried using them, because chances are a lot of them will be obsolete/not useful, and I'd rather get stuff done. I'm still not convinced they speed up most tasks, but it's been really useful to have it track down memory leaks and silly bugs.

johnnyanmac 7mo ago
>I decided if I was going to evaluate it fairly though, I would need to try a paid product. Okay. Get me a job and I'll pay for any model of your choosing. Until then, finances are very slim.
- smj-edison 7mo ago
  > Get me a job Heh, I'm a college student, so I can't help with that... You could also try Gemini 3 pro with Gemini's CLI which is free, though it's not as good at using tools. But, it sounds like you're not interested, which is fine! Just please don't continue to argue with finer points if you're not interested. I've done my best to engage with your points, but I get the sense that it doesn't matter what I say. I am curious though, why do you feel so strongly about LLM products?
  - johnnyanmac 7mo ago
    I should note that I'm not the same person that you were talking to you the chain. So I hope we're not mixing conversations and people. I don't think I've said that much in this chain, so I can't answer much. But sure: >why do you feel so strongly about LLM products? Personally, I work in games. So pretty much everything in the discourse of LLMs and Gen AI has been amplified 5x for me. The layoffs, the gamers' reaction to stuff utilizing AI, the impact on hardware prices, the politics, etc. Theres a war of consumers and executives, and I'm trapped in the middle taking heat from both. It's tiring and it's clear who to blame for all of this. I want all of this to pop so the true innovation can rise out, instead of all the gold rush going on right now. Also,game code is very performance sensitive. It's not like a website or app where I can just "add 5 seconds to a load time" unless I'm working on a simple 2D game, nor throw more hardware to improve performance. Even if LLMs could code up the game, I'd spend more time optimizing what it makes than it saved. It simply doesn't help for the kind of software I work with.
    - smj-edison 7mo ago
      Crap, you're right. I swear, tiny usernames is both a boon and a curse... > Personally, I work in games. So pretty much everything in the discourse of LLMs and Gen AI has been amplified 5x for me. The layoffs, the gamers' reaction to stuff utilizing AI, the impact on hardware prices, the politics, etc. > Theres a war of consumers and executives, and I'm trapped in the middle taking heat from both. It's tiring and it's clear who to blame for all of this. I want all of this to pop so the true innovation can rise out, instead of all the gold rush going on right now. That makes a lot of sense. I've been pretty fed up with the hyperbole and sliminess, and I can't imagine how difficult it is to be squeezed between angry gamers and naive and dense executives. When you say "true innovation", is that in terms of non-AI innovation, or non-slimy AI innovation? I guess I personally still believe that LLMs are useful, but only as another tool amongst many others. I'm also a big believer in human centered UX design, and it's kinda sad that the dominant experience is all textual. > Also,game code is very performance sensitive It does seem like game programming is the last bastion of performance, at least in terms of normal hardware, since the game has to go to the consumer's hardware. The "silver bullet" mentality drives me a little crazy because it clearly doesn't work in all situations. Anyways, I don't know if this response really has a point, but I wanted to at least acknowledge your experience.

johnnyanmac 7mo ago

>I decided if I was going to evaluate it fairly though, I would need to try a paid product. Okay. Get me a job and I'll pay for any model of your choosing. Until then, finances are very slim.

smj-edison 7mo ago
> Get me a job Heh, I'm a college student, so I can't help with that... You could also try Gemini 3 pro with Gemini's CLI which is free, though it's not as good at using tools. But, it sounds like you're not interested, which is fine! Just please don't continue to argue with finer points if you're not interested. I've done my best to engage with your points, but I get the sense that it doesn't matter what I say. I am curious though, why do you feel so strongly about LLM products?
- johnnyanmac 7mo ago
  I should note that I'm not the same person that you were talking to you the chain. So I hope we're not mixing conversations and people. I don't think I've said that much in this chain, so I can't answer much. But sure: >why do you feel so strongly about LLM products? Personally, I work in games. So pretty much everything in the discourse of LLMs and Gen AI has been amplified 5x for me. The layoffs, the gamers' reaction to stuff utilizing AI, the impact on hardware prices, the politics, etc. Theres a war of consumers and executives, and I'm trapped in the middle taking heat from both. It's tiring and it's clear who to blame for all of this. I want all of this to pop so the true innovation can rise out, instead of all the gold rush going on right now. Also,game code is very performance sensitive. It's not like a website or app where I can just "add 5 seconds to a load time" unless I'm working on a simple 2D game, nor throw more hardware to improve performance. Even if LLMs could code up the game, I'd spend more time optimizing what it makes than it saved. It simply doesn't help for the kind of software I work with.
  - smj-edison 7mo ago
    Crap, you're right. I swear, tiny usernames is both a boon and a curse... > Personally, I work in games. So pretty much everything in the discourse of LLMs and Gen AI has been amplified 5x for me. The layoffs, the gamers' reaction to stuff utilizing AI, the impact on hardware prices, the politics, etc. > Theres a war of consumers and executives, and I'm trapped in the middle taking heat from both. It's tiring and it's clear who to blame for all of this. I want all of this to pop so the true innovation can rise out, instead of all the gold rush going on right now. That makes a lot of sense. I've been pretty fed up with the hyperbole and sliminess, and I can't imagine how difficult it is to be squeezed between angry gamers and naive and dense executives. When you say "true innovation", is that in terms of non-AI innovation, or non-slimy AI innovation? I guess I personally still believe that LLMs are useful, but only as another tool amongst many others. I'm also a big believer in human centered UX design, and it's kinda sad that the dominant experience is all textual. > Also,game code is very performance sensitive It does seem like game programming is the last bastion of performance, at least in terms of normal hardware, since the game has to go to the consumer's hardware. The "silver bullet" mentality drives me a little crazy because it clearly doesn't work in all situations. Anyways, I don't know if this response really has a point, but I wanted to at least acknowledge your experience.