LLMs: Accelerating Incompetence in Software Engineering
This essay argues that over-reliance on Large Language Models (LLMs) in software engineering can accelerate incompetence. An experienced software engineer details how LLMs, while offering speed in code generation, introduce significant risks: incorrect outputs, inability to understand context, increased technical debt, and the suppression of critical thinking and creativity. Drawing on the insights of Peter Naur and Fred Brooks, the author emphasizes that programming is about building program theory and managing program entropy, tasks beyond current LLMs' capabilities. The essay concludes that while LLMs are useful tools, they cannot replace human ingenuity and deep thinking, and over-reliance can lead to increased costs and project failures.
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