Coding with Gen AI: Refactoring
I am finding programming with Generative Artificial Intelligence, Gen AI, to be fun! Like I am pair programming with the best programmer in the world (indirectly, I am!)
One aspect I love having my “pair” do: Refactoring!
I can just code up a storm, making a mess wherever I want. Generic variable names, opaque function names, duplicate functionality every where.
Basically, just move as fast as I can to the goal.
When I get things working - I just take all the code, put it into
[SYS] You are a top Ruby on Rails programmer with knowledge of the ecosystem.
[ME] Refactor the following code so it's clean:
<dirty messy code>
[AI] Gladly!
<refactored clean code>
All of this happens without any friction all in an instant.
The perfect pair programmer!
The same for variable and function names:
[SYS] You are a top Ruby on Rails programmer with knowledge of the ecosystem.
[ME] Rename the X variable to Y and the function Z to A.
<confusing code with variables X and function Z>
[AI] Here you go!
<code with variables X as Y and function Z as A>
Pairing with an Generative AI just takes all the grunt work out of my programming and lets me focus on the fun parts: coding up a storm to a solution.
I always joked when I met software consultants that had client engagements where they were cleaning up their clients’ mess.
Now Generative AI can do it instantly with almost zero cost!
What a time to be alive!