Question about writing code before and after AI helpers

Six months ago, I'd spend a whole day just setting up a basic web scraper in Python, hunting down libraries and fixing errors. Now, with tools like GitHub Copilot, I can get a working prototype in about an hour. The change happened when I got stuck on a project for a client in Austin and decided to try it out. It just handles the boring parts so I can focus on the actual problem. Has anyone else found they spend less time on setup and more on the core logic now?

3 comments

3 Comments

jenny3918d agoTop Commenter

Honestly same, it's kind of embarrassing to look back at my old code now lol. I used to write these huge, messy functions just to read a CSV file, and now it's like three lines. I spend way more time thinking about what the code should actually do instead of how to make the basic pieces work. It feels less like fighting with the computer and more like having a really fast, slightly dumb assistant who gets the boring stuff done.

robin_lee8d ago

God, yes. I found that shift happens when you finally get comfortable with the basic tools, so your brain stops wasting energy on the how and can actually focus on the what. It's like you stop being a plumber trying to fit pipes together and start being an architect. The dumb assistant feeling is spot on, you just have to give it the right, simple commands.

shaneb167h ago

See that same pattern with any tool you get good at. You stop thinking about the hammer and start thinking about the house. The real work moves from your hands to your head.