Code pairing with chatgpt

I recently realized an interesting development for my code writing:

I am now frequently pairing with chatgpt to write my code. In fact writing code without chatgpt is rapidly becoming like programming in the days before Stack Overflow - without some way to help you when you get stuck you spend a lot of frustrating time in that state.

Now, when I get stuck with code, I ask chatgpt about it. The interesting thing is just how varied my 'stuck' situations can be. Here are some examples:

• A test is failing and I don't know why
• My editor is complaining about code format and I don't understand why
• My linter is complaining about syntax and I can't get it right
• My application logic keeps failing and I can't figure out why

The list is truly is endless. Essentially any time I am 'stuck' I try to use chatgpt to help

This requires an interesting skill - asking a good question.

This requires providing enough (but not to much!) information and phrasing the question in a way to give me what I want. Sometimes this means including a bunch of files. Sometimes this means providing the minimal reproducible example - yeah chatgpt gets that too ;)

The answers from chatgpt are fantastic in that they often suggest things to try, provide reasons for why you are seeing what you are seeing and the reason for it and the reasons for writing the code differently. Just like chatting with a human coding pair, but less code switching for the neuro diverse ;)