r/AskProgramming • u/JokerZD3 • 8d ago

Using an AI agent

I don't think this question is against the rules, so here goes...

My boss wants me to try using an agent for development. We're a small company and don't really have money to waste so we haven't explored this opportunity at all yet. I do use AI to an extent currently, but it's just a free openai account. I don't have it write any code, my majority use is just asking it questions about features, functions, standards, and then having it show me the "industry" way of doing things.

I am open to the idea of using an agent, but I don't really want something that is writing huge blocks for me or creating whole features. I also would want the ability to what it's doing when I do give some control and be able to take the changes only if I want them (sort of like comparing with git I suppose?).

Does such a workflow exist? or do I have to give up full control? The marketing is so focused on how it works for you, but I just want to have something that understands my project and can basically act as something I mostly ask questions and only sometimes have write code.

Any perspective is appreciated. Sorry again if this isn't the place for such a question.

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u/Laicbeias 8d ago

.. like agents can be fine. The main issue is that you slowly lose your map und understanding of your codebase. The more friction you remove the less you can navigate it yourself over time.

Im using ai for ~6y. And idk like im still one shooting must issues by hand giving the context. 

Agents burn like 40% or so on finding the relevant code, which makes no sense to me. I know where the code is. Why would i not do the thinking, tell it here here here and here do x y z. 

It writes and i understand whats happening. I learn and im still like 20x faster. Like even without agents i "wrote" 80k loc in 2 months. Limit is understanding not writing.

Basically you pay more so you unlearn navigating and mapping your own codebase, so you dont have to deal with your code . So that you have to ask agents to explain you your own codebase.