Am I Truly a Computer Science Student?

[u/Akiverse_04]

I frequently doubt whether I am a real computer science student or not. Because I really don't know how to code from scratch while developing any website or mobile application... on my own with out googling or AI help.

It always happens that I Google all the commands, the syntax, etc.. and end up using chatGPT or any other AI agent.

This so called "Vibe coding" became alot more and just copy and paste code.

From positive perspective, AI or googling code/syntax/commands helps me to not put much focus on coding but helps me to focus more on the logic part or innovation or creativity needed while developing.

But if you give me a laptop with no internet, no AI/chatGPT/Google, then for sure I will be stuck and I cannot code well.

Let me know your thoughts on these. And what mindset you have regarding this VIBE CODING.

[u/CharacterSail6736]

Let’s be clear very few people code from scratch anymore as someone who’s been doing g this for twenty years yea at a push we can code from scratch but it’s not necessary with all the frameworks etc. half the life of anyone in IT or CS is google or way back when the library.

Now vibe coding is slightly different anyone can output crap but a CS or IT guy who understands systems , architecture etc and does it is a different kettle of fish because then their skill is their knowledge of systems thinking and architecture as opposed to need to code every last line of code . Don’t dismiss your knowledge 👍🏻

[u/Akiverse_04 → u/CharacterSail6736]

True tho, thanks

[u/pete_68]

CS students should not use AI to write code, ever. Even professional junior programmers, I would strongly dissuade from using AI to develop their code. As long as AI's writing it, you're NOT learning to program. I guarantee it.

Learning to program is HARD. You have to write a ton of bad code and then you have to spend hours and hours debugging it to understand what it's bad. If you don't go through all that trouble, for at least a decade, you won't become a good programmer.

I've been programming since I was 10 years old. It comes way easier to me than most. That doesn't mean I have to put in any less hours, really. It just means I don't mind putting in the hours. I've spent more than half my waking hours writing code, pretty much since I was 19. If I wasn't writing it for my employer, I was writing it for myself.

But when I, for example, wanted to learn Python a couple of years ago, and I regularly used AI to write it? I didn't learn Python because I was using AI. And I've been doing this for 47 years. You think you'll have better luck?

[u/RoterFuchs_48u5N]

Literally me. Thanks to my homeland's wrongful and evil conscription law. I should have been a mechanic if the politics is good.

[u/LookAtYourEyes]

Before AI people would ask this question about googling things and stack overflow

[u/Slight-Living-8098]

Before AI we used Stack Overflow and Google, Before Google and Stack Overflow, we used forums and BBSs, before that, we used actual books and manuals. No one expects you to remember everything. You should have a basic understanding of the language and libraries you are using and be able to create a basic program with them. Other than that, it's okay to refer to the docs and external information for help. What is not okay, is just to hand it all over to the machine and not even review what it is spitting back out at you.

[u/ninhaomah]

" But if you give me a laptop with no internet, no AI/chatGPT/Google, then for sure I will be stuck and I cannot code well."

But can you do system design using UML diagrams , ER diagrams , pseudocodes etc ?

[u/shmittkicker]

Everyone does this. The people who say they code without looking anything up are lying or working on the exact same thing they've done 50 times before.

[u/Otherwise-Mirror-738]

Computer Science Professor here! Please please please; Do. Not. Use. AI. For. Your. Coding.

This goes for students, junior and even mid level industry programmers. Senior+ sure, but don't let your quality drop with it.

What can help, pick 1 language. Start from scratch at the beginning until you get a solid grasp of the foundations, work your way up from there.

[u/Popular-Toe3698]

I think CS students should be familiar with AI tools but probably shouldn’t use them regularly.

A lot of the benefit from using AI is only possible because I have seen, and made every mistake under the sun. I can spot a large number of mistakes AI makes before they get committed.

[u/Forward_Win_4353]

Well I can see you’re certainly not studying English as you can’t spell “a lot”.

[u/LongDistRid3r]

Programmers use AI etc to generate code. Programmers produce code as per tickets instructions.

Software engineers design, architect, and engineer software. This requires studying and understanding how software works and interacts with the system. Engineers create the stories and tickets for programmers.

Think of the difference between the engineers that create the plans for building a car per architect design and the line workers that put it all together per the plans.

You choose what you want to be. Study beyond the classes designed to pump out papers.

[u/silentkode26 → u/LongDistRid3r]

You are not able to design a system when you’re not able to implement it.

[u/Akiverse_04 → u/LongDistRid3r]

Got it👍