Thoughtworks Technology Podcast Using generative AI for legacy modernization
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Nov 28, 2024 Shodhan Sheth and Tom Coggrave, both technologists at Thoughtworks, delve into the transformative potential of generative AI in modernizing legacy systems. They discuss the complexities of outdated code and the necessity for expert input, emphasizing the 'human in the loop' approach. The duo explores how AI enhances understanding of business processes, tackles dead code, and improves communication of modernization strategies. Their insights highlight a balanced integration of generative and traditional AI methods to overcome the challenges of legacy modernization.
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Generative AI for Code Comprehension
- Legacy codebases are large, complex documents requiring years to comprehend.
- Generative AI helps by summarizing and explaining key parts faster than humans.
Human-Scale Answers
- Previous reverse engineering tools produced overwhelming outputs, like large flowcharts.
- Generative AI provides human-scale answers, allowing for deeper queries and better understanding.
Early Experiments and Limitations
- Early experiments involved using ChatGPT by pasting code chunks and prompt engineering.
- Limitations arose due to code dependencies and non-linear structure, leading to the need for more advanced tooling.