GitHub launches Copilot agent mode, enhancing AI-driven coding. It enables auto error correction and task handling. Project Padawan, a fully autonomous agent, is in preview. GitHub's advancements in agentic AI aim to keep pace with competitors like Replit and Bolt in the evolving development landscape.
DeepSeek, a popular AI app, may secretly send user data to the Chinese government, raising national security concerns. Experts found hidden code that links user information to Chinese servers, potentially allowing direct access by the state. U.S. officials, including cybersecurity experts and congressional representatives, warn about the risks, urging immediate bans on government devices. DeepSeek's terms imply compliance with Chinese law, further alarming privacy advocates.
After 10 years in software development, I've changed my views on several topics:
New insights include the importance of communication, allowing junior developers to learn through mistakes, and the futility of ORMs. I still believe in the relevance of monoliths over microservices and caution against unnecessary scaling.
Looking forward to reevaluating these in another five years.
Extreme TLDR: Staff engineer Sean Goedecke discusses using large language models (LLMs) in coding, focusing on tasks like smart autocomplete with Copilot, writing throwaway code, on-demand learning, last-resort bug fixes, and proofreading. He values LLMs for tactical changes and research but avoids using them for critical documentation or extensive PRs.
Chat is ineffective for development tools; precision is needed in programming. AI was expected to streamline this, allowing plain English for coding, but current AI tools fail to deliver usable software. Programming requires clarity and organization, not conversation. Effective tools will prioritize structured documentation over chat, leading to better software development. The first company to recognize this will lead the next wave in AI development tools.
Amateur review of top AI tools for programming.
https://techpoint.africa/2025/02/03/best-ai-tools-for-programming/
Bill Gates emphasizes the importance of coding and math skills even in an AI-driven world, arguing they are essential for understanding AI's workings. In an Axios interview, he compares learning math to coding, asserting that foundational knowledge helps comprehend AI's strengths and weaknesses. Gates critiques the notion of banning AI in education, advocating for its integration alongside traditional assessment methods. He also reveals a personal note in his new book, recognizing traits of autism spectrum disorder, hoping to inspire similar children.
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/03/bill-gates-coding-matters-generative-ai
Beej's Guide to Git is a comprehensive resource by Brian “Beej Jorgensen” Hall, detailing Git and GitHub usage, workflows, commands, and collaboration techniques. The guide includes setup instructions, file management, branching, merging, and advanced topics like rebasing and stashing. It also covers remote repositories, configuration, and tools for conflict resolution. Versions up to February 2025 are included, emphasizing practical application and collaboration in software development.
TLDR: https://www.stefanjudis.com/today-i-learned/section-accessible-name/ elements require an accessible name (via aria-label or aria-labelledby) to function as landmarks for assistive technology; otherwise, they act as generic s, losing their intended semantic value.
Developer Philosophy @ Things Of Interest
Waydroid enables a complete Android system in Linux containers, integrating Android apps with GNU/Linux on Wayland environments. Features include free and open-source access, multi-window and full UI modes, near-native performance, and community support. Installation requires enabling the waydroid-container service, with resources available on their documentation site. The project has beta versions for various distributions, supported by a development team and community contributions.
Apple is open sourcing Swift Build, a new build engine to create Swift projects across multiple platforms and devices. It enhances build systems' performance and reliability, currently used in Xcode, while supporting Linux and Windows. The aim is to unify build systems in Swift Package Manager and improve development experience. Community participation is encouraged for contributions and feedback as Swift evolves.
https://www.swift.org/blog/the-next-chapter-in-swift-build-technologies/
TLDR: Guide on securely managing secrets in Docker Compose, highlighting pitfalls of environment variables and promoting safer methods like file-based secrets and controlled access. Emphasizes avoiding hardcoded secrets, using Docker's features, and maintaining security best practices to protect sensitive information during production deployments.
Five coding “hats” symbolize different approaches to programming based on context:
Adopting the right “hat” aligns coding style with goals.
Extreme TLDR: Colin Matthews shares tips on building AI apps without coding, including picking the right prototyping tool and designing a habit-tracking app in 20 minutes. Key advice: plan before coding and start with the data model.
https://creatoreconomy.so/p/the-number-one-hack-to-build-with-ai-without-getting-stuck
