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Learning Programming in an Age of LLMs

263 points · 195 comments · moneroloop2018

  1. js8 · · focus · HN ↗
    I answered this to myself - stop worrying about LLMs. It's pretty simple: due to Curry-Howard isomorphism, programming languages are just notations for some type of formal logic.

    Now ask yourself a question, what language do you want to maintain the programs in? Do you think natural language is going to be easier and more maintainable than formal logic?

    The answer is no. So you need programmers, people who can read the formal description and adapt it to new requirements.

    LLMs are amazing technology, but the truth is - natural language just kinda sucks. Therefore, you don&#x27;t really need them (see also <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;AI_effect" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;AI_effect ).

    I think people love LLMs for the same reasons they love magicians. But just like the magician employs a hidden trick, LLM just runs some algorithm you don&#x27;t see or understand.

    So worrying about LLMs taking programming job is kinda like worrying that a magician will take a warehouse worker job, because they can levitate stuff. Meanwhile, we already have automated programmer - it&#x27;s called a compiler.

    1. jappgar · · focus · HN ↗
      No offense, but &quot;natural language sucks&quot; is the refuge of the illiterate logician.

      Complex language is clearly superior in nature. We&#x27;re now finding out that that is true in computation as well.

      1. johnnyanmac · · focus · HN ↗
        We are in fact finding out precisely why natural language sucks in real time, as we have all kinds of catastrophic errors with people who think this is finally the time for complex language to prevail over pesky nerd language. The only difference is that more people seem to prescribe to the &quot;you&#x27;re holding it wrong&quot; handwave when said catastrophes are pointed out.
        1. jappgar · · focus · HN ↗
          Plenty of catastrophes are available under pure logic as well. The only catastrophes they prevent are accidental ones.

          Natural language can build civilization around &quot;do unto others as you would have done unto you&quot;.

          Logic cannot encode morality, precisely because it is unambiguous.

          1. johnnyanmac · · focus · HN ↗
            You are right, and that is precisely the issue. When complex logic fails, we don&#x27;t usually blame the machine. When natural language fails, we as of late seem to be trying to anthropomorphize a machine that cannot be held accountable. As if understanding natural language suddenly means it understands morals.
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