Dan BaileyNov 25, 2023
mcc
Reverse GitHub Copilot, it doesn't write any code for you, instead it asks you to explain your code with non-specific questions and through the rubber duck effect this causes you to notice bugs and/or realize yourself how to proceed with coding. On the inside it is literally just Eliza (1964)
Nov 23, 2023 at 6:12pmWeb
Show threadmccNov 23, 2023
Reverse GitHub Copilot is thus superior to Regular GitHub Copilot because rather than introducing bugs it fixes them
Show threadbignoseNov 23, 2023

@mcc And it "fixes bugs" in the same sense that Copilot "writes code"

meaning that it gets humans to do all the work but convinces other humans that no human work was involved

Show threadPeter LinssNov 23, 2023

@mcc and it teaches programmers to think through, structure, and design their code better, rather than use generated code they don’t understand.

This is a product I’d actually use.

Show threadjigsaw bicycleNov 24, 2023
@mcc Emacs is once again ahead of the race (M-x doctor)
Show threadbadeline Nov 25, 2023
"Damnit, emacs" - XKCD #378
Show threadBen ZaninNov 23, 2023
@mcc "how does for ((i=0; i<=${#wombles[@]}; i+=3)); do make you feel?"
Show threadmccNov 23, 2023
@gnomon "Is it important to you that x=0 if idx>fmat.len() && !deprec?"
Show threadRobin GreenNov 23, 2023
@mcc @gnomon "Earlier you mentioned while(!finished) { auto n=queue.get_next(); }"
Show thread🍂Evan Balster🍂Nov 23, 2023
@mcc Call it ELI5-a
Show threadGoing T. MaineNov 23, 2023
@mcc have a ycombinator number of dollars
Show threadJan DNov 23, 2023
@mcc haha, I recently considered writing exactly that: A rubber duck tool, 100% LLM free.
Show threadJan DNov 23, 2023

@mcc maybe one could just adapt an ELIZA config file?

https://github.com/wadetb/eliza/blob/master/doctor.txt

eliza/doctor.txt at master · wadetb/eliza

Python implementation of the Eliza chatbot. Contribute to wadetb/eliza development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
Show threadJan DNov 24, 2023
@mcc (just dropping this here in case I actually work on it) How to for the config: http://chayden.net/eliza/instructions.txt
Show threadagatha  Nov 23, 2023
@mcc if i wasn't sure devs would hate and ignore it, I'd call it genius
Show threadKevin Boyd (he/him) 🇨🇦Nov 23, 2023

@mcc slap a beard on it and call it Number One.

(Although now I'm wondering what strange new circumstances would have to arise for Una to wear a riker beard ...)

Show threadSparky-Luna Nov 23, 2023
@mcc this is my experience with github copilot. i have to precisely describe what my code has to do.
Show threadLarry O'BrienNov 23, 2023
@mcc I assume your phone is blowing up with lunch invites from VCs.
Show threadIain McSneezyFaceNov 23, 2023
@mcc
Show threadHoward Chu @ SymasNov 23, 2023
@mcc https://mastodon.social/@hyc/109455112129583944
Show threadJohan Wärlander 🦀Nov 23, 2023
@mcc Sprinkled randomly with "don't you think this code could be deleted?"
Show threadguentherNov 23, 2023

@jwarlander @mcc

a pre-commit hook that randomly inserts "// fixme" into your code so whoever looks into it next will search for any bugs (and gain a better understanding of the code). free extra code review.

Show threadGolden Bunny of Destiny 🕯Nov 23, 2023

@mcc Still waiting for the seminal “AI Considered Harmful” article

#GBOD

Show threadJames OhNov 23, 2023
@mcc Patent it!
Show threadLyonsNov 23, 2023
@mcc where can I subscribe?
Show thread🇺🇦 haxadecimal 🚫👑Nov 23, 2023
@mcc
Rubber ducky, you're the one!
You make coding time so much fun!
Show threadBobbi TowersNov 23, 2023
@mcc That's a great idea. I was thinking of something that would refer you to the relevant section in the docs, because my biggest fear around this stuff is that we are distancing people even further from reading docs and we all know they don't need any more help with that.
Show threadmccNov 23, 2023
@BTowersCoding As long as it's not an LLM, or it will wind up referencing nonexistent sectoins of the documentation…
Show threadprozacchiwawaNov 23, 2023
@mcc if it made nice looking comments of the conversation, it'd be legendary for documentation
Show threadAlienNov 23, 2023
@mcc I use nvim and an actual rubber duck. It's a cute duck a classmate gifted me back in college. It's way funnier than copilot.
Show threadnaught101Nov 24, 2023

@mcc I'm not following, could you explain how you think this would work in a bit more detail?

😝

Show threadDoubledadoNov 24, 2023
@mcc A code learning program that engages with elenchus (asking questions) about the users code, seeking explanations not just for reason but for choice, would be an earthquake in the flipped teaching. It is literally the inverted cousin of the testing system that overlords today. Thinks = student writes code and program asks 3 random questions the student must explain. Call the program “little brother.”
Show threadClifton RoystonNov 24, 2023

@mcc

This would be incredibly useful.

Show thread 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊 Nov 24, 2023

@mcc

This is actually what most people need

Show threadPulkoMandyNov 24, 2023
@mcc here you go: https://rubberduckdebugging.com/cyberduck/
Rubber Duck Debugging – Debugging software with a rubber ducky

Debugging software with a rubber ducky

Show threadaesNov 24, 2023
@mcc Yep, had this thought too. It would also be really useful when dealing with on-call incidents. It's a high-stress situation where prompts like "What actual observations are you working from right now?" and "Can you think of any other way you could get the same indications?" would be really useful.
Show threadamiloradovskyNov 24, 2023
@mcc GItHub Doctor
Show threadglorpNov 24, 2023
@mcc honestly this sounds good unironically, you could even generate comments on from the rubber duck explanations
Show threadChris JohnsonNov 24, 2023
@mcc Amusing idea.
Show threaddbNov 24, 2023
@mcc 😂
db
Show threadChris PittsNov 24, 2023

@mcc But I already have a plushie for that.

I call it Bear Programming…. 😁