Exploring the Role of Code Understanding in the LLM Era – A Tech Consultant’s Perspective
Tags: artificialintelligen, careeradvancement, codeunderstanding, llm
Published: 2023-12-07 05:55:55

---
title: Exploring the Role of Code Understanding in the LLM Era – A Tech Consultant’s Perspective
published: true
date: 2023-10-16 07:38:39 UTC
tags: ArtificialIntelligen,CareerAdvancement,CodeUnderstanding,LLM
canonical_url: https://blog.tanka.la/blog/2023/10/16/exploring-the-role-of-code-understanding-in-the-llm-era-a-tech-consultants-perspective/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exploring-the-role-of-code-understanding-in-the-llm-era-a-tech-consultants-perspective
---

In today’s tech landscape, the ability to understand and work with code that isn’t your own is more crucial than ever. ![🌐](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f310.png) Why, you ask? Well, let me break it down: Large Language Models (LLMs), the super-smart AI systems, now make generating code a breeze. As a Technology Consultant working with various companies, I’ve noticed many folks turning to tools like GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT to simplify coding. It’s convenient and cost-effective, but there’s a twist.

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> [A post shared by Ashok Tankala | Leadership and Executive Coach | Ex-CTO (@ashoktankala)](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cyc451jOHF3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)

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![🕵️‍♂️](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f575-fe0f-200d-2642-fe0f.png) The Mystery of Unfamiliar Code

Dealing with code you didn’t write can be like solving a puzzle. If you don’t understand it, you’re in a tricky spot. Bugs might pop up, or the code could act oddly. Plus, there’s a cybersecurity angle. Hackers could train LLMs to create code with hidden security issues. If that happens, it’s a problem not just for you but also for your company.

![🔨](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f528.png) The Rise of Test-Driven Development (TDD)

In this new era, Test-Driven Development (TDD) becomes a superhero! It’s a way to ensure that the code works correctly. While we can ask LLMs for tests, relying solely on them is risky business. If the LLM makes a coding mistake, the tests it generates will be flawed, leading to low-quality work.

![🔄](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f504.png) The Code-TDD Partnership

When LLMs give us code, we can use TDD to double-check its quality. Instead of crossing your fingers and hoping for the best, we kick things off by writing or tweaking tests. This guarantees top-notch code without sneaky errors.

![💬](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f4ac.png) Your Thoughts, Please! What are your thoughts on the age of LLMs?

The post [Exploring the Role of Code Understanding in the LLM Era – A Tech Consultant’s Perspective](https://blog.tanka.la/blog/2023/10/16/exploring-the-role-of-code-understanding-in-the-llm-era-a-tech-consultants-perspective/) first appeared on [A Software Engineer's Journal](https://blog.tanka.la).