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Born Against, or why hobby programming communities are against LLM usage

391 points · 454 comments · lladnar

  1. Schnitz · · focus · HN ↗
    Because people that enjoy programming for programming's sake don't want an LLM to do the programming for them - isn't it obvious? It's just like with any other hobby, people who like car racing created rules that force you to drive yourself, even though they'd get faster lap times with electronic driver aids. People who enjoy grappling created rules that force you to grapple, even though striking could win a fight faster. People that enjoy chess don't allow you to bring a computer to the chess table. The list is endless and the people that enjoy programming will create rules that force you to program, why shouldn't they? It's their hobby.
    1. brookst · · focus · HN ↗
      This is true, but as usual nobody can agree on what "doing it yourself" means.

      Few cars are manual steering, manual brakes, manual transmission.

      Few grappling bodies go all Greek-naked.

      Few chess bodies forbid researching previous games or your opponent.

      The list is indeed endless, and every single person thinks they are using just the right amount of assistance; anything less is pointlessly difficult, anything more is cheating that takes the sport out.

      Me, I've been a hobbyist programmer since youth (6502 assembly, represent). I'm having a blast "writing" software without touching a line of code. Sure, I'm old, and maybe I'm like those guys blasting Veyrons through highways, relying on traction control and all the computers to let me drive beyond my abilities. And... ok? I'm having fun, even if I'm not doing it right, by random anonymous peoples' views.

      1. pjmlp · · focus · HN ↗
        > Few cars are manual steering, manual brakes, manual transmission.

        Tell me you are not in European or African continent without telling me.

        1. tonyedgecombe · · focus · HN ↗
          In Europe you would be hard pressed to find a car without power steering or assisted brakes.
          1. pjmlp · · focus · HN ↗
            Still plenty to acquire around in second hand.
            1. tonyedgecombe · · focus · HN ↗
              Not really.
              1. pjmlp · · focus · HN ↗
                Actually yes. Come to southern or eastern Europe, on plenty of those side road dealerships with signs on their windscreen, or parked in random places with a telephone number on them.
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