I imagine this is happening in most cognitive labor jobs, not limited to hobbyist projects or professional SWE teams.
PS5 Linux lead quits: "a bunch of noobs using LLMs" that "they don't understand"
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Re: PS5 Linux lead quits: "a bunch of noobs using LLMs" that "they don't understand"
#212Hobby groups projects like this are less fun for a lot of people who used to enjoy interacting with smart people. It's definitely become a game of just spam claude for answers with zero understanding or care for how anything actually works. That's fine to get things done and fine for a lot of side projects, but it definitely ruins the joy that people have in understanding systems and working with intellectuals.
In my hobby groups there has always been a second, smaller, more intimate invite-only space for people doing the deep work. It’s the only way to do the work in the age of 1000-member Discords where important conversations get lost in the scroll back instantly. The experience in these spaces is largely the same. LLMs can be used there, too, but when the experts are using them with experience to back it up the results…
You don't have to want to give the policeman status: once he pulls you over after running a red light at 2am and you realise he might let you off the hook if you are nice and deferential, the status gradient almost establishes itself. People knew this, and decided to become policemen for the status. So it was with tech wizards, once you encountered a problem you could not solve without their help.
Re: PS5 Linux lead quits: "a bunch of noobs using LLMs" that "they don't understand"
#213Earlier quoted context omitted.
> …been the norm for months… You know, it’s petty, but I think one of the things I hate the most about AI is that it surpassed front end JavaScript frameworks in terms of changing what the standard is every few years. What’s the point of learning anything if it becomes obsolete faster than the seasons change?
Just so you know, the frontend framework wars started and ended pretty quickly in the latter half of the 2010s. It was the downstream effect of the browser wars settling down and W3C making big moves on getting vendors to finally implement standards that were sorely needed. It had nothing to do with web dev culture.
I dunno, here is an entrant from 2025: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45071024
(not a JS dev myself, but I read HN so I see those posts every once in a while..)
Re: PS5 Linux lead quits: "a bunch of noobs using LLMs" that "they don't understand"
#214We've solved this in our FOSS project by requiring all PRs to have been tested and manually signed off by a human. It significantly decreased the amount of spammy LLM made PRs, while empowering the core contributors to move faster.
How is that enforced?
Re: PS5 Linux lead quits: "a bunch of noobs using LLMs" that "they don't understand"
#215Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think a lot of workplaces would do well to ban LLM-based replies in certain spaces.
While I don't disagree with you, they shouldn't have to. This should be one of those things like covering your mouth when you cough in a crowd and not playing loud music in your cube that people with basic social skills should know not to do. Unfortunately, like much basic courtesy, we apparently now have to make rules.
I agree, but it seems that some people actually need to be told that copy/pasting a bunch of LLM slop into chat is like farting on an elevator.
I wouldn't even say that it comes down to "social skills" in a lot of cases, it's just people who seem to be performatively using AI. I'd classify them as corporate climber "yes, boss" types more than lacking in social skills.
Re: PS5 Linux lead quits: "a bunch of noobs using LLMs" that "they don't understand"
#216Earlier quoted context omitted.
> …been the norm for months… You know, it’s petty, but I think one of the things I hate the most about AI is that it surpassed front end JavaScript frameworks in terms of changing what the standard is every few years. What’s the point of learning anything if it becomes obsolete faster than the seasons change?
There are a massive number of people who want the ends of programming and geekery but lacked the means. They are overjoyed that they can abrogate the means and enjoy the reflected light of achievement, especially if it cheapens the part they feel inferior about: namely, actually understanding and learning about the systems. As such, to them, it’s a BENEFIT if the systems change at a rate no mortal would ever agree to…
To be fair, technology has never been able to completely replace humans at anything unless the job was explicitly designed (factory/assembly) rather than organically discovered.
Writing software is one of those organic roles because it touches so many parts of a business. If you ask 100 devs to explain what they do, you'll get at least 100 distinct answers.
For the "organic" roles we have attempted to replace, we just keep lowering our standards. Doctors and lawyers are a good example of that. Obviously, the doctors and lawyers aren't going anywhere.
What is bound to occur to dev work is the opposite of what the doomers say. We will probably go back to the jack-of-all-trades type of dev. All the specialists/contractors and their certifications become worthless again. If the expected skillset becomes broader, that only further resists automation.
Re: PS5 Linux lead quits: "a bunch of noobs using LLMs" that "they don't understand"
#217My mom sure can hydrate a pizza. My grandma, rest her soul, said mom has no artistry in it. I heard stories that my grandmother worked the dough with her bare hands (ew); it always came out slightly different; more ridiculous, I heard her generation would devote a portion of an entire day (if you can even humor that ridiculous notion) to pizzacraft. Grandma was always a broken record with that stuff. The family would…
I don't get why you would view something tasting exactly the same every time as a benefit.
Re: PS5 Linux lead quits: "a bunch of noobs using LLMs" that "they don't understand"
#218inb4 being 'experts using LLMs that they don't understand' becomes the next bleeding edge bubble
Re: PS5 Linux lead quits: "a bunch of noobs using LLMs" that "they don't understand"
#219Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Hobby groups projects like this are less fun for a lot of people who used to enjoy interacting with smart people. Same thing did happen to many work places. People at all levels proxy questions through LLMs and don't even bother to read/trim/edit the response. Funny, how suddenly a tight, 1-2 sentence response on point is a sign of skill.
Wasn't there an article here, or was it under another HN post as a comment? Someone pointed out that the before the dawn of LLMs, "bad contributors" had a rate limiter of sorts. Now anyone can prompt their LLM and throw their output at you, shifting the burden entirely on the reviewer at highest possible speed.
Re: PS5 Linux lead quits: "a bunch of noobs using LLMs" that "they don't understand"
#220My mom sure can hydrate a pizza. My grandma, rest her soul, said mom has no artistry in it. I heard stories that my grandmother worked the dough with her bare hands (ew); it always came out slightly different; more ridiculous, I heard her generation would devote a portion of an entire day (if you can even humor that ridiculous notion) to pizzacraft. Grandma was always a broken record with that stuff. The family would…
okay, but what about people who get more enjoyment out of talking to their family while performing a shared task, than eating the pizza. showing up to the pizza making session a frozen pizza from the store says "I don't want to talk to you"
Pretty sure the comment you’re replying to is satire, and that you agree with each other.