AI written code

Posted by Logical_not@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 8 comments

I am seeing more and more TV ads for AI generated code. I am interested in hearing from people who have tried it. I don't want to myself, I am just interested to hear if it actually works. I have tried to troubleshoot humans wrote, and then moved on (haven't we all), and it was a nightmare. Where do you even start making sense of what a program wrote for you? Also, not looking for random opinions, but from people with experience.

Reply to Post

8 Comments

[-]

Wild-Sir533@reddit

I pretty much write everything with cursor compose. I've written the following: Android app integrated into Google Assistant so I can dump thoughts I have driving into notes that appear as notifications. I have ADHD :) Google Sheet inventory report that connects to Shopify GraphQL API and collects product inventory from multiple stores and collates all products into one report. Its all done in Google App Script and there is not one formula or vlookup anywhere. Working on a mobile picking app for ecommerce warehouse operations. If you understand business logic and can break it down into pieces, you can use generative AI IDE's to develop anything. You do need to have a basic understanding of code because it will make mistakes and sometimes you will need to look at the code and tell it where you think the issues are. I cannot write code for the life of me, but I can look at it and have a general understanding of what its doing.

[-]

Logical_not@reddit (OP)

I think you are the first person to tell me they can read code, but not really write it.

[-]

Wild-Sir533@reddit

I worked in IT infrastructure and support for 20+ years including software development companies. I picked up bits and pieces here and there and can write basic powershell scripts etc. I can't sit down and write a webapp in node but I can read source code and have a rough understanding on what it's doing and if it fits or not.

[-]

Little_Elia@reddit

One of the most important things to learn about coding is that reading code is harder than writing it. If you use an AI, you will have to read the output to check it's correct. And that will be harder (especially because it wasn't even written by a human so it can do weird stuff). So yeah just write it yourself.

[-]

DidiHD@reddit

I use it a lot, but you should treat it more like a Google Search, but more dangerous. You see, you'd read up an answer on Stackoverflow and try if that works for you but get also feedback by other users thay upvoted that answer. But for AI you don't have that. It claims things for correct with full confidence even if they are wrong. You need a very decent grasp of programming to use it effectively imho

[-]

Conscious_Bank9484@reddit

More than an opinion. This is a fact. It sucks at coding. It will get you 90% of the way, but it’s not replacing a good programmer anytime soon.

[-]

Logical_not@reddit (OP)

Thanks guys. That's pretty much where I figured it was at.

[-]

rdubya@reddit

It can be helpful for small self contained things like utility scripts and writing boilerplate code. Its borderline useless for business logic and stuff specific to your company. You still have to deeply understanding coding because it will produce trash code that looks fine but doesnt even work. You will then have to learn what it does anyway.