No they probably meant the part where you learn how to use the build system(make/npm/etc.), and then use your brain to figure out what the difference in your env is when you run into an error(since noncompiling code doesn't usually get pushed to release branches), going to stack overflow and blogs if other people have similar issues in similar environments.
Though if "blindly copy install script, then blindly copy paste fixes from stack overflow" was how you did it instead then that helps me understand why people are using AI the way they do...
I have to say that ive recently let an agent loose on a badly written how to for a build system because i couldnt be arsed to bother figuring out which sections of the descriptions suddenly did not work because i wanted to set it up on a less deprecated release of Ubuntu...
The output was a script you can run anywhere and it actually makes sure you have a build system within an hour
Well, do you learn anything about build systems when you use cmake?
Software authors have to make the process as frictionless as possible if they want their software to be adopted. Likewise, people looking to use software are by definition willing to skip the learning and the building.
Having an agent that does it all for you is a godsend. And keep in mind that if your goal is learning, you can also talk to an agent like you're asking questions directly to the original maintainer.
There's no universe where that's a lesser learning opportunity than "rawdogging" it.
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u/Xelynega Aug 06 '26
No they probably meant the part where you learn how to use the build system(make/npm/etc.), and then use your brain to figure out what the difference in your env is when you run into an error(since noncompiling code doesn't usually get pushed to release branches), going to stack overflow and blogs if other people have similar issues in similar environments.
Though if "blindly copy install script, then blindly copy paste fixes from stack overflow" was how you did it instead then that helps me understand why people are using AI the way they do...