Weirdly ChatGPT has turned into my personal Rubber Duck

As a software engineer, I've had my fair share of debugging sessions, code reviews, and the occasional coder's block.

During one of these moments of frustration, I stumbled upon an unexpected savior - a rubber duck that not only listened but also talked back.

This wasn't just any rubber duck. This one was powered by Artificial Intelligence.

Rubber Ducks can talk?

You might be wondering why I turned to a talking rubber duck in the age of advanced debugging tools and code analysis software. The answer is simple - it works, and it's surprisingly effective.

You see, this AI-powered rubber duck didn't just stare and nod at me like my therapist; it offered insights, suggestions, and a fresh perspective.

Why Rubber Duck?

For those unfamiliar with the term, "rubber duck debugging" is a practice where you explain your code to an inanimate object, like a rubber duck, to help you uncover issues and refine your thinking.

More often than not, when you explain your code line by line you find the bugs in your code. It's like having a colleague who is always free to hop on Zoom and listen to you anytime.

Pros and Cons

Let's be clear; ChatGPT isn't a silver bullet that magically solves all your coding problems. However, I've found that it is useful in certain areas.

• Debugging: The AI duck is exceptional at pinpointing high-level errors, making it a handy companion when you're scratching your head over cryptic error messages.
• Refactoring: It has also been great at refactoring code and writing cleaner functions.

But here's the catch: It's not a straight copy-paste solution.

ChatGPT offers good suggestions, but refinements are often necessary. Think of it as a helpful assistant rather than a replacement for your coding skills.

Looking ahead

In my opinion, AI isn't here to steal our jobs or replace our expertise. It's a tool when used properly can empower us to be more productive with our work.

If you're not using AI tools' at least being aware of what's possible and what's not possible with AI is good to know.

Talking Rubber Duck is a quirky example of how AI can be integrated into our workflow to boost productivity and problem-solving skills.

How has AI transformed your workflow? Let me know in the comments below!

Thank you for reading!