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u/Clean-Artichoke2031 1d ago
In programming, if a piece of code finally works, one tiny change can break it
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u/EroNomicon 1d ago
Mhm, and you have no idea why it happened or truly how to fix it.
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u/PlatyNumb 1d ago
And inevitably youll have to add to the code files to make changes, fixes or additions and you have no idea what will ruin the other because you dont even know whats making it work
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u/dishmanw 21h ago
Depends on when you wrote the code, how much code, and how good the comments are.
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u/Significant-Pear5713 13h ago
Worst part is when it finally works, but you haven't made the final changes yet.
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u/NorthernVale 1d ago
Anything you're involved in that's remotely technical in nature, it's cool if it works but you feel pretty fucked if you don't know why.
If somethings ends up going wrong? You'll have no idea how to fix it. Especially if you were expecting something not to work, but it comes out right anyways. That just means something else is wrong but you don't know what to look for.
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u/drewski2305 1d ago
programmer note # DO NOT MODIFY CODE I tried to update this 10 years ago, and it crashed the system. Just leave it alone and it works #
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u/Then-Entry7026 21h ago
In programming if something works first try, something's a miss and you feel suspicious about why, how and when will it break.
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u/KnightMare1354 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think because of not knowing how it works ??? Maybe and if it fails then no luck ?
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u/Significant-Order-92 1d ago
Quite often. Especially on large long running projects. Like most people aren't going to be super familiar with thousands of files of code. Especially if they weren't there when they were written, and the whole team and good practice has changed over the course of the system. Especially for code that largely only runs in old uses that rarely are used.
Now their are ways to address that. But that takes time and money. And may require stopping most other development.
And yes I am currently employed to work on a 20 or so year old DoD web application, why do you ask?
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u/PatapongManunulat07 1d ago
Unstable software in computer programming.
He's scared because not fully understanding it means he won't be able to fix it when it inevitably breaks again.
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u/Blaze_Darkfang 21h ago
Because if something works and you don't know why or how that's scary because that means theres something else thats probably about to go wrong
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u/MindyTheStellarCow 21h ago
If it works, and you don't know why, it means your model of how it works is wrong. This has two consequences :
- You're no longer sure if your next change is safe, you might think it's innocuous but it might break things.
- You're no longer sure everything else is working as intended and understood; things working when they shouldn't might be the result of some massive vulnerability or mistake you overlooked.
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u/__amberluz__ 13h ago
It NEVER works on the first try. And if it ever does, it breaks in the most spectacular way.
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u/Vamsi-Thopu 1d ago
Something about AI being better than you ig
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u/Significant-Order-92 23h ago
Neah. That could have similar issues. But software development on large older systems where no one who originally developed them is still there. Or trying to fix security scan issues (my personal hatred). Thing says problem exists. You try everything suggested. And it still says the issue is present. You put in one minor change and suddenly, it's cleared. No clue why. But the other option is going through days more work for it, potentially just to have it not even recognize that the original code had that issue.
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u/Rezkel 23h ago
Nah, AI currently is even worse. Its kinda hilarious sometimes, massively frustrating other times. One minute Claude is giving perfect answers and great material. The next day, same prompt complete trash and you have no idea why, and neither does Claude. I really love when you use an image or video reference, give a random test prompt to make a say product advertisement. The test prompt looks great so you write out a more in depth prompt with specific instructions your positive it should follow fine. And its a fever dream on Crack with all this added crap you never said layered on top of each other looking like some lovecraftian horror.
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u/qualityvote2 1d ago edited 28m ago
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