by orbisvicis | 2025-12-22 03:18:45+00:00
I work alone (in a medium sized company). No peers, no code review. AI code review is invaluable.

AI is a mixed bag. I'm the type of person who is compelled to have a deep understanding of the code they write. Writing my own code vs fixing AI-generated code is a wash timewise, and the AI generated code is so limited (assuming you pared down the uselessly elaborate code and fixed all the critical runtime bugs) as to restrict further iterations. And I'm talking about uploading an architectural blueprint with every function a documented but otherwise empty stub.

AI is a great bellwether. I bounce ideas off AI for a consensus. The closest equivalent is reading StackOverflow comments. I once offhandedly complained that python had no equivalent for setattr at class scope (as __class__ is not defined until after __new__), but AI showed me how to provide a closure in __prepare__ over the class namespace, which was introduced in 3.3 (?) and to which I paid little attention. What a gem.

AI is great for learning. If you follow a textbook or blog or paper and don't understand, AI can clarify. But be careful with less structured learning - it is important to build a full mental model accounting for every possible outcome and explanation, otherwise you're susceptible to hallucinations. I remember my first derivative in which the end result could be obtained via two separate proofs, one of which would imply an incorrect calculus. You've got to play with it until you're satisfied your mental model accounts for all the facts.

Because AI facilitates learning so easily I feel the best skills for a future generation are those pertaining to memory and retention. Ya know, assuming we don't develop individualized and personalized AI that can model your next word and act as a personal memex.

AI is great as a search assistant. I have much better recall when rereading content. Thus, I prefer to ask AI to search for links to content I vaguely recall, rather than ask AI for it's own summary or recollection.

Despite being terrible at writing decent code, AI provides fantastic code review. It catches everything from subtle high-level errors - even potential errors that haven't yet occured - to api mismatches to syntax errors. I actually wish I was as fluent at namespaces and cgroups as AI, and I'm well versed.

AI is interesting at comments. It can be hard to provide germane comments while wading through the weeds. I feel the best comments are written a few days after the code is complete. AI provides that fresh perspective instantly. And if AI can't understand your code, you had better improve your comments.

I'm about to try AI for unit tests. I prefer hypothesis tests. I took a quick glance at the generated code, and it seemed overly complicated. So I'm not optimistic.

Outside of software, AI is great for things you don't really care about. Yeah it might hallucinate, but my back-and-forth with AI is more about holding up a mirror to myself, revealing inner biases. Especially useful for interior decoration / remodeling.

Of course, take everything I said with a grain of salt as security at my company actively discourages AI. So, everything I said applies to free/cheap plans only. And I haven't tried skills yet.