Augment Code

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Augment Code is a top verified open-source AI agent for software engineers, featuring advanced integration with codebases, memory enhancements, and collaboration tools. It excels in code quality, outperforming competitors on the SWE-Bench leaderboard at 65.4%, and offers features like real-time context analysis, debugging tools, and seamless integration with various development environments. The platform includes efficient workflows for issue tracking, pull requests, and coding, emphasizing reliability and developer efficiency.

https://www.augmentcode.com/

Why I Stopped Using AI Code Editors

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Stop using AI code editors due to loss of competence and over-reliance; manual engagement recommended. Started using AI in 2022, felt fast but grew dependent. Dropped AI in late 2024 to regain skills. Maintaining in-depth knowledge is crucial, as AI fails in complex contexts. Use AI wisely, but don't rely fully on it—stay engaged and curious to avoid becoming obsolete in programming. Enjoy coding for its own sake and keep practicing basics to remain capable.

https://lucianonooijen.com/blog/why-i-stopped-using-ai-code-editors/

What Is Local-first Web Development?

Local-first web development allows users complete control over their data and functionality, even offline, with automatic synchronization when online. Unlike traditional web apps, which rely heavily on backend servers, local-first apps prioritize user ownership, instant access, and device independence. Core principles include offline support, collaboration, security, and sustained access to user data. Applications fit for local-first environments are mostly productivity-based, while others like banking are less suitable. Local-first methods can face challenges such as data synchronization conflicts. Overall, this approach represents a shift towards more user-centric, resilient web applications.

https://alexop.dev/posts/what-is-local-first-web-development/

How Complex Systems Fail

TLDR: Complex systems (e.g., healthcare, transport) are inherently hazardous and protected by multiple layers of defenses against failure. Catastrophic failure requires multiple small failures to align, with latent issues always present. Human operators adapt to maintain safety, but assessments post-accident are often biased and incorrectly attribute failures to single causes. Safety is a dynamic characteristic of systems, shaped by human activities and experience with failure. Adaptations by practitioners are critical, but changing technologies can introduce new failure pathways.

https://how.complexsystems.fail/

E.W.Dijkstra Archive: On the Foolishness of “natural Language Programming”. (EWD 667)

Dijkstra criticizes “natural language programming,” asserting it complicates the man-machine interface rather than simplifying it. He highlights that formal programming languages, despite being perceived as burdensome, help eliminate nonsensical errors that natural language cannot. Historical examples show that reliance on verbal communication has hindered mathematical advancement. He suggests that formal symbols facilitate learning and precision. Dijkstra warns that the decline in language mastery (“The New Illiteracy”) undermines the feasibility of programming in natural languages. Ultimately, he believes creating and using such languages would be incredibly challenging.

https://www.cs.utexas.edu/~EWD/transcriptions/EWD06xx/EWD667.html

Devin, the Viral Coding AI Agent, Gets a New Pay-as-you-go Plan

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Cognition has launched a low-cost pay-as-you-go plan for its viral AI coding tool, Devin, previously priced at $500/month. The new plan starts at $20 for about 9 computing credits, with usage potentially increasing costs. Although Devin 2.0 claims improved functionality, its effectiveness in complex coding remains questionable, with earlier evaluations showing it completed only 3 of 20 tasks successfully.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/03/devin-the-viral-coding-ai-agent-gets-a-new-pay-as-you-go-plan/

Senior Developer Skills in the AI Age: Leveraging Experience for Better Results • Manuel Kießling

Senior Developer Skills in AI: Leverage experience for productivity. Embrace AI tools for coding; they can elevate results. Senior developers hold the advantage due to their expertise in project management and architecture, aiding effective AI use. Successful AI coding requires well-structured requirements, tool-based guard rails, and file-based keyframing. Real-world examples show AI can handle coding tasks efficiently, transforming project execution. Essential practices like documentation and quality checks ensure high standards. Human experience remains crucial for optimal AI implementation in software development.

https://manuel.kiessling.net/2025/03/31/how-seasoned-developers-can-achieve-great-results-with-ai-coding-agents/

Zencoder’s ‘Coffee Mode’ Is the Future of Coding: Hit a Button and Let AI Write Your Unit Tests

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Zencoder introduces ‘Coffee Mode,' allowing developers to use AI for unit tests and coding tasks while taking breaks. The AI, integrated into popular IDEs like Visual Studio Code and JetBrains, claims superior performance on industry benchmarks by analyzing entire codebases. Its unique “Repo Grokking” technology offers contextual insights, mitigating common AI coding tool issues. Zencoder positions itself against competitors like GitHub Copilot while enabling developers to maintain familiar workflows. The company aims for production-ready AI code with security checks, projecting transformative changes in software development by 2025.

https://venturebeat.com/ai/zencoders-coffee-mode-is-the-future-of-coding-hit-a-button-and-let-ai-write-your-unit-tests/

I’ve Operated Petabyte-scale ClickHouse® Clusters for 5 Years

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Operated ClickHouse® clusters for 5 years, focusing on architecture, storage, upgrades, config, costs, and ingestion challenges. ClickHouse uses replicas and shards for data management, though cloud storage is preferred for cost efficiency. Ingestion is critical, often causing data loss or corruption. Upgrades are complex but manageable with careful planning. Efficient cluster operation requires understanding source code and using CI/CD for testing. Balancing cost, performance, and configuration is essential, and effective ingestion is key to stability.

https://www.tinybird.co/blog-posts/what-i-learned-operating-clickhouse

There Is No Vibe Engineering

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Vibe Coding, coined by Andrej Karpathy, emphasizes coding without direct code interaction, relying on AI outputs. While AI changes coding, it doesn't replace the essential role of software engineering, which involves system design over time. Vibe coding focuses only on immediate coding tasks, neglecting vital long-term considerations. Thus, there's no unique “Vibe Engineering”; it's still traditional engineering, albeit with less coding. The future may integrate AI-generated components, but the need for careful system design remains unchanged. Vibe Coding is effective for prototypes but not suitable for robust production software.

https://serce.me/posts/2025-31-03-there-is-no-vibe-engineering

What Is Vibe Coding? And Why Should You Care?

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Vibe Coding Overview:
Vibe Coding emphasizes the “vibe” or essence of software rather than focusing solely on the code itself. It leverages AI to create software by using natural language inputs to guide the development process, allowing AI to iteratively refine and enhance code behavior based on human conceptual directions. This shift raises new challenges for businesses, such as reliance on code that may not be fully understood by humans, the acceleration of prototype development, and implications for software testing, security, and team structure. As AI-generated code becomes more prevalent, it's vital for businesses to adapt and stay competitive in this evolving landscape.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishatalagala/2025/03/30/what-is-vibe-coding-and-why-should-you-care/

Why I’m Breaking Up With Vibe Coding

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Breaking up with vibe coding: once enjoyable, now inefficient. Over-reliance on AI leads to time sink, high costs, lack of understanding. AI aids mockups, but structured planning needed for complex tasks. Exploring balanced alternatives like Gemini Code Assist and Open WebUI for better control and reduced expenses. Creativity valuable, but unsustainable without structure, especially under deadlines.

https://www.lucasaguiar.xyz/posts/vibe-coding-pitfalls/

Getting Started With TDD: a Practical Guide to Beginning a Lasting Practice

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Test-driven development (TDD) can frustrate newcomers due to its perceived rigidity. The key issues include overly strict adherence to the “Red-Green-Refactor” cycle without recognizing individual skill levels or situational pressures. Developers should see TDD as a flexible practice rather than a strict procedure. Practical tips to begin TDD include brainstorming tests, organizing code into pure functions, acknowledging imperfect test coverage, avoiding direct reliance on externally owned code, using wrappers, employing dependency injection, and keeping UI handling simple and abstract. The aim is continuous practice and improvement rather than perfection. Readers with a basic understanding of JavaScript and React may find the article particularly beneficial.

https://8thlight.com/insights/getting-started-tdd-practical-guide

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