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Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

perevillega.com

21–30 of 62 posts

Re: Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

#21
post #17

> This isn’t a minor detail, it’s the core constraint that shaped virtually every habit and institution in our industry. I am so so tired of this turn of phrase in LLM created content. I guess I don't know for sure whether this article was LLM written but I suspect so. Or, scarier still we are changing our own writing to match this slop.

I find it amusing that software developers have no issue with having an LLM churn out slop code but have such a visceral reaction to slop articles.

You are falling into the trap of thinking there's a single monolithic being called Software Developers that has inconsistent opinions. In fact, you're observing different people with conflicting values.

Re: Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They allude to it, but I think one of the new skills that will be valuable is reasoning about systems where you don't know the code. This is what “owners” and managers who don’t touch code do today.

This isn't really a thing. You can't create an accurate 4K image from a low res JPG. Owners and managers who don't touch code don't know shit and have to go to the developers to learn about important decisions made in the application and how they work in detail.

[dead]

Re: Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

#23

> Developers who learn to specify, verify, and iterate will thrive. This will last for about one year. From next year agents will be prompting themselves. Human developers will have approximately zero economic value.

Prompting themselves to do what?

Re: Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

#24

Code is cheap, as long as you ignore the knock-on effects on RAM prices, storage prices, environmental costs, the fact that people are still burning thousands of dollars on tokens...

Easy when you’ve got direct injections of free ponzi money continuously.

Re: Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

#25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They allude to it, but I think one of the new skills that will be valuable is reasoning about systems where you don't know the code. This is what “owners” and managers who don’t touch code do today.

This isn't really a thing. You can't create an accurate 4K image from a low res JPG. Owners and managers who don't touch code don't know shit and have to go to the developers to learn about important decisions made in the application and how they work in detail.

Owners and managers will believe the AI companies that AI can create an accurate 4K image from a low res JPG.

Re: Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

#26
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it amusing that software developers have no issue with having an LLM churn out slop code but have such a visceral reaction to slop articles.

You are falling into the trap of thinking there's a single monolithic being called Software Developers that has inconsistent opinions. In fact, you're observing different people with conflicting values.

Yeah yeah. But LLMs certainly have been embraced by a large number of developers. Many of whom I've observed react with disgust when they see "not X, but Y" or emdashes in an article. But when it comes to code, "wow this is so awesome!"

Re: Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

#27

Code is cheap, as long as you ignore the knock-on effects on RAM prices, storage prices, environmental costs, the fact that people are still burning thousands of dollars on tokens...

This is not first time in history that RAM prices spiked.

And it'll be resolved the same way all others were.

demand > supply => higher prices => incentive to produce more => produce more => supply > demand => lower prices

The drastic drop in price of code is permament.

Re: Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

#28
post #23

> Developers who learn to specify, verify, and iterate will thrive. This will last for about one year. From next year agents will be prompting themselves. Human developers will have approximately zero economic value.

Prompting themselves to do what?

specify, verify, iterate

Re: Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

#30
post #27

Code is cheap, as long as you ignore the knock-on effects on RAM prices, storage prices, environmental costs, the fact that people are still burning thousands of dollars on tokens...

This is not first time in history that RAM prices spiked. And it'll be resolved the same way all others were. demand > supply => higher prices => incentive to produce more => produce more => supply > demand => lower prices The drastic drop in price of code is permament.

How long does it take to spin up enough completely new chip fabs to supply the demand?
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