Tim De Jong4d ago
Federico Viticci 

Some thoughts on @stroughtonsmith's month with Codex, what's happening to software development, and the blurry lines between human art forms and AI:

https://www.macstories.net/linked/a-developers-month-with-openais-codex/

A Developer’s Month with OpenAI’s Codex

An eye-opening story from Steve Troughton-Smith, who tested Codex for a month and ended up rewriting a bunch of his apps and shipping versions for Windows and Android: I spent one month battle-testing Codex 5.3, the latest model from OpenAI, since I was already paying for the $20 ChatGPT Plus plan and already had access

Mar 19 at 11:23amWeb
Show threadSteve Troughton-Smith4d ago
@viticci ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Show threadSteve Troughton-Smith4d ago

@viticci I think I have an answer, too: programming languages provide the highly-enforced structure and sanity-checking that LLMs need to excel. It's like the (defunct) left brain vs right brain idea — one side for creativity, one side for logic. A dreamer, and a thinker. Together, it keeps concepts well enough in check to create some amazing things.

I think we don't (yet) have that for prose, or music. But I could see it being possible, if we invent and teach the right abstraction layers

Show threadJeff4d ago

@stroughtonsmith @viticci For me, this is a game changer. I've already got a full time job supporting a wife & a kid and I make sure to put aside time every week to make music with a good friend to keep my sanity..

So, that leaves little time for "the average person" like me to make an app, right?

Codex has allowed me to take what was once just an aloof idea into an actual plan and hopefully an app release in a few months. Could be sooner! This stuff is just that good.

Show threadJeff4d ago
@stroughtonsmith @viticci It also absolutely terrifies me because that means I have a product I want to sell to people? Now I have to market it and stuff.. It's actually been kind of like work! But in a good way! It's been eating into the time I'd use to play my guitar. And I don't seem to mind!
Show threadCallum Jones4d ago

@viticci @stroughtonsmith if the developer is now the conductor, I'd like to consider what happens to software engineering (programming + time + collaborators).

Does the orchestra now have 10 conductors? That can't work.

Show threadSteve Troughton-Smith4d ago
@seejy @viticci replace 'conductor' for 'manager' and you have your answer. We're overthinking a structure that already exists
Show threadCallum Jones4d ago

@stroughtonsmith @viticci if the underlying code doesn't matter, are developers just collaborating on writing AI prompts?

I'd rather write code!

Show threadJon Schwenn4d ago

@viticci @stroughtonsmith I haven’t completely thought this through, but I think of writing as the conveyance of ideas. If an idea comes from one’s heart, there is value in coming writing it by hand. If it comes from your logical side, it’s more efficient and possibly effective to have an LLM write it. I’m thinking in business settings. They’re getting good enough if you know how to use the tool.

Then again, you can also give it your life story, your beliefs and convictions, and tell it your specific perspective — and tell it to write a heartfelt piece.

But where’s the fun in that.

Show threadSam Doran4d ago

@viticci For me, I love the process of writing code to make a computer do a thing. Taking that away and making me a robot manager is devastating. I use LLMs. They're handy. They are very helpful. But I don't want to be a manager. I want to be an engineer, a doer.

As much as you don't want an LLM to write your (wonderful) prose or make music, I don't want a bot writing my code. That's stealing a huge source of joy and satisfaction from me.

The tension arises from the two types of developers: those for whom code is a means to an end and those for whom code is an end in itself.

Show threadCallum Jones4d ago

@viticci I think your take is missing that many software engineers view their code like you view your writing.

Art comes in more forms than prose/drawings/music. It's anytime someone is using their perspective to introduce something new into the world.

AI has no perspective.

Also, lots of code is understood in it's "raw form" - there's a huge open source movement where the code does matter.

Show threadLeon Cowle4d ago
@viticci @stroughtonsmith Both Steve's long article (great article!) and your commentary on it are very good, Federico. It's a scary and brave new world (and very nuanced) — anyone dismissing it out of hand isn't worth engaging with.