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How to Write with an LLM

769 points · 420 comments · joeriddles

  1. semiquaver · · focus · HN ↗
    This would sound insane to me from two years ago but I have recently started insisting on writing all my own commit messages and pull request descriptions. I do usually have an agent review them for factual accuracy, but not rephrase them.

    It slows things down a bit, but in the best possible way. It has helped immensely to improve the depth of my understanding of the agent-generated code. When agents are doing everything its way too easy to “skim” diffs and not really absorb them.

    I always prided myself on my technical writing, and commit messages and PRs were a great place to hone that skill. I found that I missed it and my work is better now I’ve reclaimed that part of my old job back.

    1. cgriswald · · focus · HN ↗
      Using LLMs is like managing people. It’s difficult in some ways and easier in others. You should trust them to a degree but also know what is going on and if you’re “trusting” them out of laziness you’re doing it wrong.
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