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CopyOnWrite • 04/24/2025 • 1 reply • view on HN

I have read somewhere, that LLMs are mostly helpful to junior developers.

Is it possible the person claiming success with all these languages/tools/technologies is just on a junior level and is subjectively correct but has no point of reference how fast coding is for seniors and how quality code looks like?

Replies

CrimsonRain • 04/25/2025

1. You have read somewhere...but you don't have any experience. LLMs are really bad for Junior developers.

  A. They have no skills/exp to judge AI output
  B. They don't learn from sudden magical wall of code output
  C. They don't get to explore; thus don't learn.
  D. Ultimately, LLMs act as a bad drug to them that keeps them dependent and stagnant.
  E. LLMs are really good for higher end of senior devs. This also means, they don't need as many Juniors anymore and they don't mentor juniors much. This is the biggest loss for Juniors.
2. I think you are absolutely right. I became a Staff Engineer with junior level LLM coding. More power to me I guess :(