[throwaway314155]

I think this is debatable. But I've used Cursor and various extensions for VS Code. They're all fine (but cursor can fuck all the way off for stealing the `code` shell integration from VS Code) but you don't _need_ an IDE as Claude Code has shown us (currently my primary method of vibe coding).

It's mostly about the cost though. Things are far more affordable in the the various apps/subscriptions. Token-priced API's can get very expensive very quickly.

[hirako2000]

We are trading tokens and mental health for time?

I used Cursor well over a year ago. It gave me a headache. It was very immature. Used cursor more recently: the headache intensity increased. It's not cursor it is the senseless loops hoping for the LLM to spit out something somewhat correct. Revisiting the prompt. Trying to become an elite in language protocols because we need that machine to understand us.

Leaving aside the headache, its side effects. It isn't clear we haven't already maxed out on the productivity tools efficiency. Auto complete. Indexed and searchable doc a second screen rather than having to turn the pages of some reference book. Etc etc.

I'm convinced at this stage that we've already started to trade too far. So far beyond the optimal balance that these aren't diminishing returns. It is absolute diminishing.

Engineers need to spend more time thinking.

I'm convinced that engineers, if they were to chose, would throw this thing out and make space for more drawing boards, would use a 5 minute Solitaire break every 1h. Or take a walk.

For some reason the constant pressure to go faster eventually makes its mark.

It feels right to see thousands of lines of code written up by this thing. It feels aligned with the inadequate way we've been measured.

Anyway. It can get expensive and this is by design.

[throwaway314155]

> We are trading tokens and mental health for time?

I have bipolar disorder. This makes programming incredibly difficult for me at times. Almost all the recent improvements to code generation tooling have been a tremendous boon for me. Coding is now no longer this test of how frustrated I can get over the most trivial of tasks. I just ask for what I want precisely and treat responses like a GitHub PR where mistakes may occur. In general (and for the trivial tasks I'm describing) Claude Code will generate correct, good code (I inform it very precisely of the style I want, and tell it to use linters/type-checkers/formatters after making changes) on the first attempt. No corrections needed.

tl;dr - It's been nothing but a boon for this particular mentally ill person.

[hirako2000]

If your handicap make coding difficult perhaps another profession would suit you better.

Now if Ai assistance allow you to perform well then that is a different story and I take my advice back of course.

There is a lot to say, positive things about how LLMs enables people to perform at tasks that would be impossible for them. Whether due to handicaps or simply lacking the abilities, or opportunity to train.

My comment was on the impact on "healthy" individuals who remain the majority of the population. And I only spoke for myself, I have no clue maybe it is just me or due to how I use the thing. Thanks for sharing your experience though, I had not considered what might be a concern for the majority with this might very well be an enabler.