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0 pointsKostchei3y ago0 comments

With no experience in java, no coding for 30years since pascal in high school, no previous use of git or github, no hands on experience of the azure stack... I stood up 4 static web apps that do things I want in my hobby in 4 weeks- the first one took 12 hours including being shown git, installing npm etc etc. The last one took me 40 minutes. They do things for me in D&D that I have wanted for 20 years- now that capability is accessible. Whole monster manual ingested into a level, terrain and faction based encounter system that give ranges and features for the encounter ie a battle map. Scaling encounters suitable for the party at any level that theme with the terrain and dominant faction. The best thing about an MMO but for 5thed dnd.

Did I learn a bit of java and css and git?- sure, but I was up and running in about 4 hours with a mvp for my 1st one. There is NO way I could "learn" that in that timeframe. I just asked chatGPT 4 how to do it, and it told me. When I didn't know how to commit, it told me (actually I didn't even know the concept). It held my hand every step of the way.

I didn't need to learn something first, I just did it. And I have started doing it at work. "hmm 4 GB of fortinet logs in 20 files of gzip on mac.. how do I find a host name in that? - chatgpt.. oh- 1 line of zgrep.. never heard of it- hey it works.."

admittedly, I am bathed in tech, been hanging around folks talking about projects for years. But NOW I can execute- the problem? When it hits about 500 lines of java- maybe 10 functions, it is too big to drop into the prompt to debug and I don't know enough to fix myself. Solution, make smaller apps, get them working, create data files to reference in json, chain them together. eh, not perfect, but good enough for hobby.

Beware- fools like me who know nothing will be bringing code to production near you soon. Cool that you like to learn stuff, but syntax bores the crud out of me, each to their own, I'm just going to make. I find it more satisfying. Terrifying that code born like mine will end up in someone's prod, but it will.

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3 comments · 2 top-level

antihipocrat3y ago· 1 in thread

It sounds like you've learned a lot in the process of using the LLM, and perhaps you will use the LLM less for the basic stuff next time.

KostcheiOP3y ago

Maybe, but I think it is more likely I will try a different type of project, a different stack. See if that is the only easy path. Try something with graphics (a visual map) or that uses the llm api (generate a narrative etc). But my mate who is a programmer agrees with you- he sees the same thing- it is a good way to learn while being productive.

byby3y ago

This is a good answer. You don't have the bias of years of programming experience or training. You don't have your identity tied to the job.

If AI helps you, you'll emphasize on the overall benefit rather then nitpick at the details because of the clear conflict of interest that LLMs present to programmers.

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