Changelog Interviews Agent, take the wheel
19 snips
Jul 2, 2025 
Thorsten Ball, a software engineer at Sourcegraph and author of books on compilers, discusses the innovative AMP coding tool. He shares insights on the transformative potential of coding agents and recent advancements in AI tooling. Thorsten explores the divide between AI believers and skeptics, while emphasizing the importance of critical thinking as programming evolves. He also highlights practical applications of AI in coding, touching on how these technologies enhance developer efficiency and the future prospects of tools like Amp.
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Agent's Surprise Self-Editing Power
- Thorsten Ball had a mind-blowing moment when a small AI coding agent figured out how to edit files on its own using terminal commands.
- This demonstrated the power of tool calling and minimal code to enable models to edit code effectively.
Simple Loop Mimics Human Thinking
- Agentic coding is a simple loop: try an action, get feedback, try the next until the goal is met.
- This brute force with AI's vast knowledge mimics human problem solving and yields impressive productivity.
Share AI Conversations to Build Trust
- Share AI agent conversation threads to build trust and knowledge within teams.
- Transparency helps skeptics understand and adopt powerful AI tooling effectively.