Changelog & Friends Adventures in babysitting coding agents
33 snips
Jun 6, 2025 
Join software engineer and author Steve Yegge as he shares his insights on the future of coding. He argues that the traditional IDE is obsolete and explains why managing AI coding agents is more engaging than traditional programming. Discover the rise of 'vibe coding' and how it's revolutionizing the workforce, particularly for junior engineers and non-coders. Steve also discusses the societal impacts of AI integration in software development and offers practical tips on navigating this new landscape.
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The Death of the IDE
- The traditional IDE is losing prominence as developers move towards cloud-based coding and terminal-based workflows.
- Software development is shifting to managing autonomous coding agents rather than direct code editing.
AI Fixes Slow Emacs Startup
- Steve Yegge used an AI agent to diagnose and fix a slow shell startup in Emacs.
- Despite risks, the agent successfully fixed a longstanding bug overnight without breaking anything.
Managing AI Like Assassin's Creed
- Steve compared managing multiple AI agents to commanding assassins in Assassin's Creed II.
- Despite preferring direct action, he found directing agents addictive and engaging.
