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herdymerzbowyesterday at 4:51 AM1 replyview on HN

As a self teaching beginner* this is where I find AI a bit limiting. When I ask ChatGPT questions about code it is always about to offer up a solution, but it often provides inappropriate responses that don't take into account the full context of a project/task. While it understands what good structure and architecture are, it's missing the awareness of good design and architecture and applying to the questions I have, and I don't have have the experience or skill set to ask those questions. It often suggests solutions (I tend to ask it for suggestions rather than full code, so I can work it out myself) that may have drawbacks that I only discover down the line.

Any suggestions to overcome this deficit in design experience? My best guess is to read some texts on code design or alternatively get a job at a place to learn design in practice. Mainly learning javascript and web app development at the moment.

*Who has had a career in a previous field, and doesn't necessarily think that learning programming with lead to another career (and is okay with that).


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ilcyesterday at 9:18 PM

I can't summarize 40~ YOE of programming easily. (30+ professional)

I can tell you: Your problems are a layer higher than you think.

Coding, Architecture, etc. Those get the face time. Process, and Discipline, and where the money is made and lost in AI.

To give a minor example: My first attempt at a major project with AI failed HORRIBLY. But I stepped back and figured out why. What short-comings did my approach have, what short-comings did the AI have. Root Cause Analysis.

Next day I sat down with the AI and developed a PLAN of what to do. Yes, a day spent on a plan.

Then we executed the plan. (or it did and I kept it on track, and fixed problems in the plan as things happened.) On the third day I'd completed a VERY complex task. I mean STUPIDLY complex, something I knew WHAT I wanted to do, and roughly how, but not the exact details, and not at the level to implement it. I'm sure 1-2 weeks of research could have taught me. Or I could let the AI do it.

... And that formed my style of working with AI.

If you need a mentor pop in the Svalboard discord, and join #sval-dev. You should be able to figure out who I am.