[dbdoug]

Hey, I'm nearly 80 years old. I haven't written a line of code in over 10 years. But I'm coding now, with the help of Claude & Gemini, and having a great time. Each block of Python or Applescript that they generate for me is a much better learning tool than a book - I'm going through the code line by line and researching everything. And I'm also learning how to deal with LLMs and their strengths & weaknesses. Correcting them from time to time when they screw up. Lots of fun.

[II2II]

> Each block of Python or Applescript that they generate for me is a much better learning tool than a book - I'm going through the code line by line and researching everything.

I have been doing something similar. In my case, I prefer reading reference documentation (more to the point, more accurate), but I can never figure out where to start. These LLMs allow me to dive in and direct my own learning, by guiding my readings of that documentation (i.e. the authoritative source).

I think there has been too much emphasis (from both the hypesters and doomsayers) on AI doing the work, rather than looking at how we can use it as a learning tool.

[gkrimer]

Couldn't agree more. On a large and open ended feature I sometimes struggle with where to start and end up researching something tangential. Cool learning, but not efficient.

Claude Code gives me a directory, usually something that works, and then I research the heck out of it. In that way I am more of an editor, which seems to be my stronger skill.

[ramshanker]

>>>>Hey, I'm nearly 80 years old.

You are an inspiration. I will remember this when I grow older. Just wanted to say this, I am 1/2 your age, and I am sure there are 1/3 or even 1/4 people here. ;)

[airstrike]

I'm very happy for you and hope when I'm nearing 80 I get to be doing something similar.

[IBCNU]

It's cool to rediscover Applescript for me (I'm late 40's) but it's a funny thing where I can like smell the NeXT in it almost nostalgically but it's quite handy in this new era of hijacking mac mini's (OpenClaw obviously is one way to do it, but why not just straight to the core).

I personally think coders get better with age, like lounge singers.

[mrpippy]

AppleScript doesn’t have any NeXT heritage, it comes entirely from classic MacOS (debuted in System 7.1)

[james_marks]

Sure, but you can feel some emergent philosophies that are starting to converge and there are recognizable aesthetics.

[msoori]

Good for you. Learning is a life long thing!

[oulu2006]

That's great and I'm the same, 40s multiple founder and I was ready to hang it up after my last exit -- had 0 passion to code anymore and now I'm back and LLMs are reigniting my passion to create again.

[kazinator]

> better learning tool than a book

Learning for what? That day when you write it yourself, that will never come ...

There is only so much you can learn by reading; it requires doing.

The good thing about traditional sources like books, tutorials and other people's code bases is that they give you something, but don't write your project for you.

Now you can be making a project, yet be indefinitely procrastinating the learn-by-doing part.

[bmacho]

> Learning for what? That day when you write it yourself, that will never come ...

For the enjoyment, and producing better products, faster?

Why were you learning, before AI tools?

[kazinator]

I've always been learning by doing, in the course of making things, in order to keep making, with only a small fraction of looking at what others have done.

[mkirsten]

You are an inspiration. Reading this makes me happy

[sheepscreek]

I second another fellow commenter, you are my inspiration too! Thanks for sharing.