Why Programming Remains Essential: The Iterative Nature of Code and Specification
By
stevekrouse
Fresh out the oven, still warm. Top of the tray.
Summary
The article argues against the notion that AI will make coding obsolete, asserting that programming is fundamentally about iterative refinement and precise specification. It draws parallels between writing code and writing prose, emphasizing that both require continuous revision and clarification. The author contends that natural language specifications are inherently vague and that the process of coding itself is necessary to achieve true precision. AI is presented as a tool that assists in this iterative process rather than replacing it entirely.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThere is a profound tension here: english specifications intuitively feel precise until you learn better from bitter experience.
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." – Bertrand Russel
Programming, like writing, is an activity, where one iteratively sharpens what they're doing as they do it.
A sufficiently detailed spec is code
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