How are you using LLMs or ML to improve your SWE?

Question

The other day I needed to write a polyfill for a browser API. I used ChatGPT (in browser) to do it and it got me mostly there pretty quickly.But I don't yet use any other LLM tooling like Copilot, WizardCoder etc. and I wonder what I'm missing out on.

taf2 · Accepted Answer

I treat like google. I ask it a question , unlike google I can continue to ask it follow up questions about my previous question. I find it better for complex problems then simple questions. It&rsquo;s like a second brain you can outsource things too that u can normally do but would take longer .

zelda-mazzy · Answer

I use ChatGPT on problems where I have really specific questions about them. For instance why I'm getting a certain return value, why a function isn't working, etc. It's a lot less headache than fumbling through Stack Overflow or the official documentation (most of the time I do check documentation first, but there are times where it doesn't have my answer). I haven't started using Github Copilot yet but plan to soon.

catlover76 · Answer

I don't use the "copilot" style stuff either; I am basically in constant communication with GPT-4 via the normal interface, copying and pasting stuff in/out of there and asking questions.For a software engineer not to use LLMs now strikes me as basically "malpractice"

BOOSTERHIDROGEN · Answer

I&rsquo;m no developer I just interested in technology in general but I do like tinkering with computer and comfortable with it. I have basic knowledge in programming just a script kiddie I would say. Before LLM I would struggle to build a complete either script / app. Now I could confidently say everything I face I could ask LLM, it just like a Steve Jobs meme &ldquo;there is an app for that&rdquo; to &ldquo;there is a minimal boilerplate to that&rdquo;. Someone might said LLm bring people to the average, and for a lot of us below average that is a net positive I guess. Instead I also curious for 10x Engineer how they see the tools, how much gain they could have.

nicbou · Answer

I use it to get straight answers without sorting through SEO spam and parsing pages. I can find what I need without dealing with the internet at large.

How are you using LLMs or ML to improve your SWE?

The other day I needed to write a polyfill for a browser API. I used ChatGPT (in browser) to do it and it got me mostly there pretty quickly.
But I don't yet use any other LLM tooling like Copilot, WizardCoder etc. and I wonder what I'm missing out on.

I treat like google. I ask it a question , unlike google I can continue to ask it follow up questions about my previous question. I find it better for complex problems then simple questions. It’s like a second brain you can outsource things too that u can normally do but would take longer .

I don't use the "copilot" style stuff either; I am basically in constant communication with GPT-4 via the normal interface, copying and pasting stuff in/out of there and asking questions.
For a software engineer not to use LLMs now strikes me as basically "malpractice"

I use it to get straight answers without sorting through SEO spam and parsing pages. I can find what I need without dealing with the internet at large.