MichDMay 20

Working in software dev and roundly rejecting the idea of generative AI for a large list of reasons, sure as heck is feeling lonely and kinda despairing.

I enjoy thinking about requirements and problems. I enjoy coming up with systems and I enjoy building them in code that's idiomatic and pleasant in the programming languages designed for humans to work with. I love making elegant solutions and continually learning to build things in nicer ways, make the codebase a delight to work in.

Show threadMichDMay 20
But then it feels like everyone around me wants to farm out the parts that are so fun about this job, to have a machine take bits it took from everyone's lovingly crafted work, and put them together in a way that sure, accomplishes the direct goal... but likely without any of the elegance and intent.
Show threadMichDMay 20

And no I'm under no illusions it won't get better at writing decent, properly working programs over time. I'm lamenting that it's very quickly becoming expected that this activity I enjoy so very much and happen to make a living of, is to be carted off for a machine to do.

I get it from the capitalist perspective too: make stuff you can ship quicker. The eternal short term thinking, profits this quarter and all.

Show threadMichDMay 20
I remain cynical that systems built by generative AI will have longevity. Even developers who actually know the tech are likely to get lax because it's so easy to just let the machine do it and see tests pass. They'll get out of practice thinking critically about systems design, like an un-exercised muscle.
Show threadMichDMay 20

I really do enjoy technology. Programming computers makes me feel like a wizard. The fun is in the understanding, in the designing for a wealth of factors.

I really hope that folks won't just entirely stop seeing the value in that when computers do it "good enough" on their own. I don't want mediocre to be all there is, I want to be able to take pride in what I build.

Show threadMichDMay 20
Sitting in astonishment at how the word predictor that was fed a monumental amount of real people's work without their consent, can produce working code from a quick prompt, is not my idea of a worthwhile endeavour.
Show threadMichD
That's enough pondering on this I guess.
May 20 at 11:14pmPhanpy
Show threadGina HäußgeMay 21
@MichDdev You are not alone