How much can you still code with no internet connection? 🤔
In other words, is it still worth to write code manually? 😬
This week, out of office, I experienced a seriously weak connection. Here is how it went down 👇
AI owns the implementation
Issue number 1 of manual coding: AI owns the implementation 👀
I don't know all the minor details of the code anymore, AI deals with them 💁🏼♂️
It's not an issue of control: I know how the code works, I review all implementations, and I have automatic checks to keep the code clean.
But ask me about every minor implementation detail, and I may not be able to respond:
- What CSS styling property is used?
- What HTML tags and structure is in place?
- Where are all the places this variable is used in the codebase?
During review, I just skim minor details (especially styling and frontend components).
Manual edits would require loading all those into my working memory, with the risk of missing broader patterns and references.
Risky and intense 🤔
Larger scope
My backlog was already filled with AI-adapted tasks.
Most tasks are not "minor" anymore for manual coding, but minor enough for AI to handle no problem 💁🏼♂️
Fixing a single bug may work manually. Changing some styling or a small refactoring.
But with AI what's "expected" from a single task is usually not that small anymore.
With larger tasks, the risk of missing references or patterns increases. Real friction when considering manually writing code.
Which brings me to the next point: Time 👇
Time efficiency
AI increased productivity. Here is a (my) definition:
Achieve an higher quantity of output with the same quality as before, but in less time 🫡
As such, missing AI becomes a question of time:
For how long I won't have an internet connection? Better wait? 🤔
That's the question in everyone's mind. Instead of messing with manual edits, I can wait and gain back the time once AI (connection) becomes available again.
Even with a shaky connection, I was still able to produce more that what I would have done with manual edits.
Automatic reconnection, stored context, clear in-progress messages. Codex handled it no problem 🤝
You don't want to lose control of your codebase, nor lose your capacity to write code (Do you really understand your codebase?).
But the reality is, if you know how to use the tool called AI properly, the productivity gain most often justifies waiting even a few hours before jumping into manual edits 🙌
You will hear about the words "state machine", "state chart" and "actors" quite a lot in the next few weeks and months.
Mark these words 📝
See you next 👋