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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. jdkoeck · · focus · HN ↗
      Two years ago? I don’t get it, coding agents have been compelling for barely a year.
      1. holoduke · · focus · HN ↗
        I would say from march this year.
      2. adastra22 · · focus · HN ↗
        Cursor and aider were definitely compelling two years ago. Nothing compared to now, of course, but still better than raw dogging it.
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