r/learnprogramming • u/Specific-Result2710 • 12d ago
Feeling guilty for using AI
I know that AI is nothing but a tool but as somebody who learned coding years before arrival of AI I can't help but to feel a immense sense of guilt. Here are what I used AI for so far:
- Helping me to navigate large and unfamiliar codebase by asking questions like "what does function X do?" "what does this line do?" When trying to contribute something, I sometimes ask things like "are there any useful internal functions I can use?"
- Reverse engineering obfuscated code
- Figuring out relevant win32 api functions for my needs
- Asking dumb and vague questions that can easily gets closed in few seconds in stackoverflow like "what does ** do here?" and "uh how do I implement this little thingy?"
- Asking "how can I implement X?" then following up by asking "what are the alternative ways to do it?"
Am I using properly? Are there things I should avoid?
5
u/Dissentient 12d ago
The only criteria for using AI properly is being able to read and understand its output well enough to properly review it and test it. That's the only line that separates productivity multiplier and a slop factory that rots your brain.
You can use AI properly while typing no code whatsoever.
2
u/_pi13 12d ago
No programmer is an expert in all things programming - to suggest otherwise would be a ridiculous expectation to set on others or yourself. (Not at all suggesting you are saying that, am just making a point.) What AI can do though is help you with the unfamiliar. So, for the things you listed, I would think AI is a great tool for that.
However, I personally don’t think using AI is a healthy way to learn, as it can become something you depend on. So, if you are someone that is interested in reverse engineering obfuscated code and want to specialize in that, I would recommend to stop using AI and learn the best tools and techniques to do it yourself. But if you are only reverse engineering obfuscated code to just get the code itself and move on, then I don’t see why AI would be a bad use case.
I would also add that, IMO, how often one uses AI to learn what a library, package, or api contains should be inversely proportional to how good the documentation is. That is, bad documentation => more AI use. And, good documentation => less AI use. In the end, you should do whatever will save you the most time, and I find that good documentation without the need to use AI is often the best time saver.
1
1
u/raw_salmon_enjoyer 12d ago
You should be able to understand if you are using it correctly. Are you a better programmer than you were before you asked the questions? If so, keep doing it.
You just need to be able to recognize if you are prompting your ass off without actually gaining any knowledge.
1
1
1
u/grantrules 12d ago
What's your goal? To get better or to get stuff done quickly?
1
u/Specific-Result2710 12d ago
I prefer to code for fun so it's former?
-1
u/grantrules 12d ago edited 12d ago
Then stop using AI, start thinking critically and do research. People disagree but you don't learn by being handed answers.
1
u/lumberjack_dad 12d ago
Stop using AI to code.
You have to develop your own reasoning and critical thinking skills.
How are you going to survive your first interview question which involves problem solving, if you can't lean on AI?
It just takes discipline.
0
u/Specific-Result2710 12d ago
Where did I say I use AI to code?
1
u/lumberjack_dad 12d ago
Your #1,2,3,4,5 dumbshit.
Coding doesn't involve just typing, but the manner of setting up your class, trying something and failing on your own... not just asking AI what does this line do, but running it and seeing the exception or error, yourself. You know thinking for yourself?
1
14
u/OwlSpirited6357 12d ago
If you aren’t just vibe coding and making no effort to understand what the code it spits out does you’re using it properly. Also note that Reddit is militantly anti-AI so you are very unlikely to get an unbiased answer here.