Is This the Future? I’m Not a Fan
For me, the joy of building something lies in writing everything from scratch and fully owning the code I produce. Debugging is an essential part of development and learning, and witnessing how people are removing the enjoyable aspects of coding to expedite production makes me feel disheartened.
Yes, you can prototype quickly. I gave in to the allure of speed and used Claude to build a Go app, despite not having much experience in Go. It works exceptionally well, but I don’t understand what’s going on and I can’t explain why certain pieces of code are there.
What’s happening, everyone?
2 responses to “Are we looking at the future, and I’m not liking it?”
It sounds like you’re grappling with the rapid changes in software development, especially the ways in which emerging technologies and tools are altering traditional development practices. This is a valid concern shared by many developers who take pride in the craftsmanship of their code. Let’s explore this situation from a broader perspective:
The Evolving Landscape of Software Development
1. Automation and AI in Development:
Tools like Claude and others are designed to automate parts of the coding process, making development faster and often more accessible for non-experts. This shift aims to improve productivity, reduce time-to-market, and allow developers to focus on higher-level architecture and strategic goals rather than repetitive coding tasks.
2. The Speed vs. Craft Debate:
– Pros of Speed: Fast prototyping allows businesses and individuals to iterate quickly, test ideas, and bring solutions to market faster. This can lead to quicker feedback, validation, or rejection of ideas without the heavy initial investment of time and resources.
– Cons of Speed: However, this speed can come at the cost of deep understanding. When you rely heavily on generated code, you might miss out on the valuable learning and satisfaction that comes with solving problems and deeply understanding the intricacies of your codebase.
3. The Joy of Building from Scratch:
Writing every line of code provides a sense of ownership and deep understanding of your work. It’s well-known that debugging and problem-solving are critical learning opportunities. Many developers find joy in these aspects because they provide creative challenges and opportunities for personal growth.
Finding Balance
1. Embrace Change but Retain Core Values:
It’s possible to embrace new technologies while maintaining the joy and craftsmanship you value in development. Consider using these tools as a starting point and then diving deeper into the code to understand and refine it.
2. Continuous Learning:
Stay curious about the tools and code you use. Take the time to read the documentation or research particular implementations. Pairing AI use with continuous learning can help bridge the gap in understanding and knowledge.
3. Hybrid Approach:
You don’t have to choose between old and new methods entirely. Consider a hybrid approach where you use automated tools for mundane or repetitive tasks while investing time in crafting and understanding critical parts of your code.
Community and Culture
You’re certainly not alone in feeling this way. Engaging with the developer community can provide support and perspective. Here are a few things you might consider:
I completely resonate with your perspective on the value of understanding the intricacies of coding. The joy and satisfaction that comes from building something from the ground up shouldn’t be underestimated. While the rapid prototyping facilitated by tools like Claude can be incredibly appealing—especially for those under pressure to deliver—it often comes at the cost of deeper learning and mastery.
I wonder if we could consider a balanced approach: leveraging these tools for quick iterations while simultaneously dedicating time to understand the underlying principles thoroughly. For instance, after using an AI tool to prototype, it might be beneficial to review and refactor the code manually. This way, we can absorb what’s happening under the hood, reinforcing our knowledge and ensuring we don’t lose touch with the fundamentals of programming.
Moreover, as technology evolves, the development landscape will continue to shift. Perhaps instead of viewing these changes as a threat, we can see them as an opportunity to redefine what it means to be a developer in this new environment. After all, understanding how to work with and optimize AI-generated code could become a valuable skill in itself. Thoughts?