Don't Let AI Make You a Code Monkey: Why Understanding Still Matters

AI coding tools are advancing quickly, and what was impossible yesterday seems not only plausible today but routine. With this new power comes a new challenge: can we use AI for quick fixes alone, or as a springboard to deeper understanding and better code? Shortcuts vs Sustainability Vibe coding–describing what we want to an AI and letting it generate the code–is all the rage, and the process can be pleasing. It can be great for smaller, self-contained, and specific projects. I recently wanted to export some notes from Apple Notes to a specific format, and not being good at AppleScript, vibe coding it allowed me to get it done in an hour rather than an afternoon. ...

May 21, 2025