alt Hacker NewsSometimes, yeah. I don't think we're disagreeing
What I'd also add:
Because of the unspecified behaviour, you're always going to need someone technical that understands the output to verify it. Tests aren't enough
I'm not even sure if this is a net productivity benefit. I think it is? Some cases it's a clear win.. but definitely not always. You're reducing time coding and now putting extra into spec writing + review + verification
> Sometimes, yeah. I don't think we're disagreeing
I would disagree. Formalism and precision have a critical role to play which is often underestimated. More so with the advent of llms. Fuzziness of natural languages is both a strength and weakness. We have adopted precise but unnatural languages (math/C/C++) for describing machine models of the physical world or of the computing world. Such precision was a real human breakthrough which is often overlooked in these debates.