The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Agent, take the wheel (Interview)
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Jul 2, 2025 
In this enlightening discussion, Thorsten Ball, a software engineer at Sourcegraph, shares his insights on AI-assisted coding and the revolutionary Amp tool he’s working on. He explains how coding agents can transform software development and discusses the divide between AI believers and skeptics. Thorsten highlights recent advancements in AI, the unique features of Amp, and the necessity for adaptability in engineering skills. He delves into the impact of large language models, questioning traditional coding methods, and envisioning a future where AI enhances coding efficiency.
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Mind-Blowing Agent Discovery
- Thorsten Ball describes a mind-blowing moment when an AI agent edited files using terminal commands despite no direct edit tool. - This experience sparked his motivation to demystify agentic coding and share its power through a blog post.
Agents Use Brute Force Loop
- Coding agents operate on a simple loop: try an action until the problem is solved or one gives up. - This brute force trial and error mimics human problem solving but at an exponential and tireless pace.
Build Light AI Scaffolding
- Build AI products with light scaffolding around models to easily adapt as they evolve. - Pick the best model automatically and avoid heavy user configuration to provide seamless experiences.