01-18-2026, 05:32 PM
(01-18-2026, 02:27 AM)Pete Wrote: I'm predicting 6, and what I mean by obsolete is picture the day some kid can use Chat GBT, Open AI, whatever, to make a working 8,000 line QB64 program! I make quite a few of those, and it only takes me a couple of months, but imagine having one made in a couple of nano-seconds.
It really got me thinking today how AI will influence my desire to code. The best, or at least, first thing that jumped out of my head was, "I hope the Rams beat the Bears, tomorrow" Okay, NFL playoffs aside... the second thing that jumped out of my head was, "I'd feel like an idiot taking a few months to code something that I could get a machine to make for me, just as soon as I asked for it." So I guess what comes next is planning on what addition to builds I've made I'd like to see expanded, meaning I'd have to put my software engineers cap on and start making much more sophisticated and integrated aps. I mean OOP was sort of the baby steps in this direction, but I was not an OOP enthusiast. Why? Well because OOP is too rigid and not creative enough for me. AI, however, can and will be much more flexible and especially creativity as expanding its creativity is what will allow it to grow. So I guess I'll think about embracing AI as a tool in the near future, but when it becomes my boss, I think I'll file for my retirement. Steve, get my gold Apple Watch ready!
What do you guys think?
Pete
Try not to be dogmatic about it. Don't live by any fixed "way", just go with the flow.
Don't stop programming. It keeps old men brains active. (speaking from experience; this is important for us as we get older to keep using those things).
Your programming can continue, just learn from what the AI is helping you make if it helps you at all. You will be better at specific tasks as a human thinking brain no matter what.
AI wins in that complexity is limitless for it to grasp/comprehend/handle - but the context window (at least with LLMs) is finite, so it may seem like it's limitless, but there ARE limits.
The change up here is you will go from a solo programmer to having a robot buddy that you tell what you want to do.
You will need to get better at breaking down large builds to small tasks that are simply explained in an outline. AI is best when giving very direct, specific guidance. You will need to translate still, if you want to use it to the fullest.
What I recommend you do @Pete, if you're up for it, is start by learning Markdown, and understanding how semantic meaning can be simply explained using markdown.
https://blog.bismart.com/en/markdown-ai-training (quick search but seems applicable)
You don't NEED to do this, but it will help - use an IDE that supports agentic workflows (vscode is my recommendation go figure).
Use MCP servers and agentic skills in your IDE to complement and enhance your natural workflows.
LMK if you want a video made on this from ground zero -> compiling in QB64PE with vscode, AI, skills, and MCP server. Happy to help there.
Also goes without saying that GitHub and git are almost required knowledge if you want to participate in things beyond "oh that's neat, look what i can do with this paragraph of words".
BUT ALL THIS NONSENSE ASIDE @pete you can continue doing whatever YOU LOVE, F the world and their ways, and no one is going to stop you. QB64PE will be maintained until the lead devs are in the dirt, or unable to type, I'm sure. And even then if you outlive them, you will be able to use the latest version forever and ever
So either you can ignore the trends, and become "obsolete" - though this even is a matter of perception, and if you have the super power of "I don't care what others think" then you are never EVER obsolete.
Peace and love to you @pete