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We mourn our craft

nolanlawson.com

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Re: We mourn our craft

#821

Post by shinryuu »

bloppe wrote: post #311
zeroonetwothree wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there's clearly a difference in opinion based on what you work on. Some people were working on things that pre-CC models also couldn't handle and then CC could, and it changed their opinions quickly. I expect (but cannot prove of course) that the same will happen with the area you are describing. And then your opinion may change.

I expect it to, eventually. But then the cutting edge will have simply moved to something else. I agree that it's very destabilizing. It's sort of like inflation for expertise. You spend all this time and effort saving up expertise, and then those savings rapidly lose value. At the same time, your ability to acquire new expertise has accelerated (because LLMs are often excellent private tutors), which is analogous to…

> it should only become easier to become a founder,

You'll also have more competition. And perhaps fewer customers because people are out of a job.

Re: We mourn our craft

#822

Post by shinryuu »

cheevly wrote: post #360

Oh no, my engineering profession requires me to use new engineering techniques due to advancements produced by engineering. Quality cringe.

It's not only that. If 1 person is able to d the job of 10 people. What do you think will happen to the other 9 people.

Re: We mourn our craft

#823

Post by totallykvothe »

arathis wrote: post #817

The hypocrisy is outstanding. For years developers have worshipped at the alter of innovation, citing their role in decimating many old industries and crafts as just what we do. Now it’s come for you. Reap what we sow, people.

I highly doubt this specific person has looked down on others for also mourning the death of their craft. You can't rightly call someone a hypocrite and cite "developers" as your source.

Re: We mourn our craft

#824

Post by thallium205 »

pojzon wrote: post #733
EliRivers wrote: post #728

"They can write code better than you or I can" They can not. They can make some average code. On Friday one suggested an NSI installer script that would never bundle some needed files in the actual installer. I can only imagine that a lot of people have made the same mistake (used CopyFiles instead of File ) and posted that mistake on the internet. The true disaster of that being that then testing out that installer…

So it can write better code than your below average software engineer. It still cuts out 40-50% of workforce out. For above average engineers its very good. For bottom half not so much. Translate for Mgrs - it replaces offshore completely.

Translation for Mgrs - it supercharges offshore immensely. ftfy

Re: We mourn our craft

#825

Post by yoyohello13 »

maplethorpe wrote: post #807
yoyohello13 wrote: post #698

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But AI has enabled them to put pages and pages of text out into the world each week: posts and articles where there were previously none. Are you for real? Quantity is not equal to Quality. I'll be sure to dump a pile of trash in your living room. There wasn't much there before, but now there is lots of stuff. Better right?

I'm finding it hard to reconcile HN's love of AI generated code with HN's dislike of AI generated content. Why is the code good but the content bad?

I think both are bad when the focus is quantity over quality. The vast majority of AI generated content is lazy and of low quality. This is just a natural consequence of making things easy. Gate keeping is actually good sometimes. Doesn’t mean there isn’t good, well curated content out there that AI was used to help make, but I think the vast sea of crap that AI enables is not worth the few gems that come with it.

Re: We mourn our craft

#826

Post by shinryuu »

IhateAI wrote: post #272

I love paying some billionaire $0.0001 to use his thinking machine / Think for me SaaS. I love my competency and speed being rented from a billionaire, removing all value of my labor and agency. I really feel sorry for all of you LLM pilled people. You need to be shamed. This is going to be used as a weapon to devalue every working persons agency in this world and remove all of the working class's bargaining chips. Y…

I'm with you. Though what good choices do I have as an individual? It seems like all the choices are crap.

Re: We mourn our craft

#827

Post by throw1235435 »

shinryuu wrote: post #791
throw1235435 wrote: post #756

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's more interesting is how the big names in our industry, the ones who already made their money as you say, have turned quickly since the end of 2025. I think even the most old school names can see that the writing is on the wall now.

What do you mean turned quickly?

Changed their opinion/public stance completely sometimes only months apart. For example "I love programming" to "if you aren't with AI you are behind" within maybe only 6 months time. Its almost like anyone with any public opinion in software is being paid to say it now and boost the AI hype.

Re: We mourn our craft

#828

Post by exitplanetary »

Gud wrote: post #494
busterarm wrote: post #378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We definitely have lost something. I got into computers because they're deterministic. Way less complicated than people. Now the determinism is gone and computers are gaining the worst qualities of people. My only sanctuary in life is slipping away from me. And I have to hear people tell me I'm wrong who aren't even sympathetic to how this affects me.

But no one is forcing you to use this software?

Well, they do, as a part of a daily job. But fun was removed from the corporate programming long ago, so AI hurts not so much.

Re: We mourn our craft

#829

Post by shinryuu »

throw1235435 wrote: post #827
shinryuu wrote: post #791

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you mean turned quickly?

Changed their opinion/public stance completely sometimes only months apart. For example "I love programming" to "if you aren't with AI you are behind" within maybe only 6 months time. Its almost like anyone with any public opinion in software is being paid to say it now and boost the AI hype.

Yeah, I'm surprised by this. The pragmatic engineer publication is full of them.

It may be that most of these people only see the benefits, or don't think they'll be adversely affected by this.

Re: We mourn our craft

#830

Post by thegrim000 »

" They can write code better than you or I can, and if you don’t believe me, wait six months."

It's ALWAYS wait 6 months, or wait for the next generation. Or "oh that model that we told you to use is old now, use this new one instead. Oh that doesn't work? Well that's old now, use this one". Always. 6 months ago it was wait 6 months. 12 months ago it was wait 6 months. 18 months ago it was wait 6 months. Now it's wait 6 months. 6 months from now it'll be wait 6 months.

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