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An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

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Re: An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

#61

Post by abelitoo »

i_cannot_hack wrote: post #13

It's a really interesting case study, but the summary seems to lean into the AI hype to an extent that borders on lying. > His fabrication shop uses it daily, and he built the entire thing in 8 weeks. During those 8 weeks he also had to learn everything about Claude Code, the terminal, VS Code, everything. I don't see how he can give this summary with a straight face after posting the interview that CLEARLY contradic…

> So I don't really see the need for the blatant lying.

Because this is an advert

Re: An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

#62

Post by k1musab1 »

iwontberude wrote: post #46
Tuna-Fish wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The story is BS, btw. Firstly, pencils in space pose serious risks. Pencils produce dust, graphite dust is conductive, and won't settle down in microgravity. They were used early on, but both space agencies phased them out when they realized the risks. After that, they first moved to grease pencils, which kind of suck for normal writing. NASA didn't research how to make pens that work in space, an American private co…

Space pen is also an incredibly reliable pen here on earth too. Highly suggest people grab one.

Overpriced for what it is - there are pressurized tank pens starting at $4, a lot more ergonomic too.

Re: An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

#63

Post by mmooss »

nkrisc wrote: post #35
pbiggar wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's take the metaphor of writing. Would we say this guy is just a writer who started from another trade? No. Writing is something that used to require experts (scribes) and that now anyone can do and is just a normal part of doing any work. Developers are scribes - we have sacred knowledge that is now being democratized because everyone can do it due to good enough tools. As a result, we won't be needed much going…

Writing is a tool, a technology. Much like hammers or saws, which are also commodified. And even though anyone can go buy a saw, not everyone is a carpenter.

> Writing is a tool, a technology.

Like paint, it can be used as a tool, to paint your house, or as a craft and artform, to paint the Rouen Cathedral.

Re: An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

#64

Post by jakeydus »

mrweasel wrote: post #8

I absolutely love this, because to me, this is what software development should be about, solving actual problems and providing faster calculations, improving the workflow for people. It does strike me as a little odd that they didn't hire a developer earlier and got the code written. Sitting back and waiting for someone to drop by and present a solution is a little naive, but it's also the world we built in the IT i…

You’re telling me that salesforce CAN’T actually solve every problem in the world more simply and efficiently than just building a tool to fit the job??

The software industry has just abstracted every problem to the point of being unable to solve anything.

Re: An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

#65

Post by jvanderbot »

As part of my "well shit what's next" arc I've been checking out machine shops in my area. By and large they are dumb manual 30 year contracts or highly automated job shops..

And the owners of those job shops aim for 3 shifts per worker via automation, and mash their own software with AI already. They are ruthless at cost cutting and automation and AI tools are perfect for them.

Unfortunately the vibe I get talking to them is essentially a triumphant "why would I need you, I have AI" or "yeah you're screwed".

I can't blame them for being served expensive barely functional crap SaaS or ERP software for ages, but I was not expecting to be viewed as part of the problem coming from a robotics, automation, and optimization background myself. It's just all a block of overpaid swindlers to them.

Re: An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

#66

Post by jvanderbot »

jvanderbot wrote: post #65

As part of my "well shit what's next" arc I've been checking out machine shops in my area. By and large they are dumb manual 30 year contracts or highly automated job shops.. And the owners of those job shops aim for 3 shifts per worker via automation, and mash their own software with AI already. They are ruthless at cost cutting and automation and AI tools are perfect for them. Unfortunately the vibe I get talking t…

I have always wanted to get back to the metal, and the rapidly changing software landscape seemed like a good kick into it, but it might also mean a complete lack of opportunity

Re: An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

#67

Post by [deleted] »

jvanderbot wrote: post #65

As part of my "well shit what's next" arc I've been checking out machine shops in my area. By and large they are dumb manual 30 year contracts or highly automated job shops.. And the owners of those job shops aim for 3 shifts per worker via automation, and mash their own software with AI already. They are ruthless at cost cutting and automation and AI tools are perfect for them. Unfortunately the vibe I get talking t…

[deleted]

Re: An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

#68

Post by smugtrain »

unkiep wrote: post #53
mromanuk wrote: post #21

The guy from the story, it’s just another developer starting from a different trade, pretty normal across our history, musicians, lawyers that discovered that they were good at computers. The conclusion is flawed, not anyone can endure what this person did, sit at a terminal, going back and forward until something is finished. That’s what a SW dev does. My conclusion, many more people will discover that they are good…

This sounds like "no true Scotsman..."

More like the inverse. No true Scotsman seeks to remove someone from belonging to a group to keep the group pure, because no true member of that group could act in such a way. This is adding people to a group that they would otherwise be excluded from. It seeks to expand the definition of the group to include the outsiders.

Re: An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

#69

Post by btrettel »

pragmatic wrote: post #50

How is a mechanical engineer a “trade worker.” Most engineers have to take at least one programming class in college.

I agree, my immediate reaction was that mechanical engineer is not a trades worker.

I majored in mechanical engineering at college. We had a required programming class. A lot of people like myself already knew how to program before we took the class too. We also had a required electronics class. My experience is that most folks with CS degrees would be surprised by the breadth of what mechanical/aerospace/chemical/etc. engineers learn.

Re: An industrial piping contractor on Claude Code [video]

#70

Post by w10-1 »

Software development usability has always been measured in mean time before black-box failure: something misbehaves that the person can't fix or understand.

LLM's shorten that time for every application and every user, but particularly for users from professions that haven't built modeling or debugging skills because they rely on physical reality - like pipes fitting or process supervision - to weed out non-performers.

Hiring for LLM-enhanced work should focus on debugging skills in unknown situations.

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