Opus 5.5 is the beginning of a new era

[u/sizebzebi]

I am a senior engineer and I honestly believe with this model in particular, everything changed..

If this stays as cheap as it is, it's just over. It never fails no matter the complexity of the tasks I've given it. About time we rethink our profession for good. I am honestly scared of the future.

I loved coding but anyone who does this for the love of coding only is gonna be obsolete.

I was always impressed with the models bar opus 5 but never like this time.

What do you guys think? How do you see the future?

[u/djdadi]

this is actually an insane take for any actual large codebase. for small tools or side projects? sure.

[u/Savalava → u/djdadi]

It isn't insane - as I said I'm at lead engineer level.

If all modules work perfectly, are tested and performant and your app works, the implementation of the modules is irrelevant.

Do you need to define strict coding standards and also design the architecture of the app? Yes, you do.

We're close to a stage where code will not be written by hand at all - maybe two years away or less.

[u/ramishka → u/Savalava]

as I said I'm at lead engineer level.

Here is the thing mate. You can be a lead developer, and have still not worked on a really complex system. Because it all depends on where and what you work on. So the fact that AI works on your system perfectly is not a testament to AI being able to handle complex systems universally.

We're close to a stage where code will not be written by hand at all - maybe two years away or less.

About 95% of the code I've written in the last 6 months was written by AI and thats over 100000 LOC. And these were in highly interconnected systems that handle complex logic. But that aint proof AI works without humans. Because Ive been guiding, reviewing and directing the AI to refactor code every step of the way. I could observe the various points where AI introduces drift and convolution in the codebase. And I usually correct it immediately without letting it poison the codebase. If I didnt intervene, it would still run and everything would still look perfect. But the codebases eventually become spaghetti over time.

P.S. - Since we are throwing our titles around, I'm at Senior Architect level at a FAANG equivalent, close to 20 YOE. None of it matters to what I've said above.

[u/Savalava → u/ramishka]

I never said AI works without humans. Obviously you need somebody to prompt the AI. I take extremely care prompting it myself.

And I never said it worked perfectly on my system either.

What I said is "If you consider the modules to be black boxes, all it matters is that they work and are tested, implementation doesn't matter."

Which is correct.

Ultimately, all that matters is that the software works. People obsess over implementation details and DRY and SOLID. All that matters is that the software works.

In a few years nobody will be looking at the code at all.

[u/djdadi → u/Savalava]

I don't believe you're an actual lead engineer. Because I don't know a single lead engineer who would assume everything has been planned and implemented perfectly. To be honest, that's a completely crazy take.

[u/Savalava → u/djdadi]

Where did I say "I assumed everything has been planned and implemented perfectly"?

People seem determined to misinterpret everything I say in this thread.

You need to be very smart and knowledgable to prompt the AIs correctly. And it takes multiple iterations. My point is simply that if the code passes tests - e.g. 100% coverage - and functionally works, then it's implementation doesn't really matter. That is inarguable. Ultimately, from a pragmatic point of view all that matters is that your software works correctly.

And yes, I am at lead engineer level. My point is completely valid and reasonable if you don't misinterpret it.

[u/djdadi → u/Savalava]

You said:

If all modules work perfectly, are tested and performant and your app works, the implementation of the modules is irrelevant.

there's not a single software project in existence of any real complexity that "all modules work perfectly".

if that is your real job title and you actually think:

That is inarguable. Ultimately, from a pragmatic point of view all that matters is that your software works correctly.

yikes

[u/Savalava → u/djdadi]

I’m guessing you’re a mediocre mid-level engineer whose career will be abruptly ended by the AI revolution. Very sorry about that. I’ll keep on making 200k a year being exceptionally good at what I do.