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jaapz 4 hours ago

Why would you use a constrained edit tool when you are also allowed to use the complete power of python?

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zarzavat 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Because the complete power of Python also includes the power to fuck things up.

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orphereus 3 hours ago | parent [-]

So does using an LLM.

	▲	TeMPOraL 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		In fact, that's kind of the whole point of using LLMs in the first place. Their value is in their general capabilities.
	▲	Vegenoid 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		…which we attempt to constrain by encouraging the use of tools that make it harder to fuck shit up.

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dools 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Having an agent edit 100 files means the job will definitely get done correctly. When it writes a script to bulk edit things it fucks up and spends ages debugging their script.

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oefrha 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Have you ever counted the number of times Claude fucked up quoting/escaping and had to issue a corrected tool call? Or get stuck in some tricky quoting situation for two minutes, throwing a couple piles of shit at the wall to see what sticks. IIRC I’ve even seen it eventually using the edit tool out of frustration once.

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rootlocus 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Simple is better than complex Complex is better than complicated

Or something, I don't remember...

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Burebista 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

... simply the best, better than all the rest (Tina Turner)

	▲	oblio 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Ușor, Burebista :-)

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thewhitetulip 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

That was pre LLM. Now everything is a prompt that you type into AI lol

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oblio 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Why even offer the edit tool in that case? Also, what kind of editing could they possible do what wouldn't be possible with POSIX ed?

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arcanemachiner 3 hours ago | parent [-]

You can chain a lot more commands together with this technique than with a single Edit tool call.

	▲	oblio 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The funny thing is that... POSIX ed is composable :-) You can do a gazillion edits with it in one shot. Of course, LLM edit tools are probably small bits of their custom code, I just find it funny. I wonder if it's a desire for certain technical characteristics that require custom code or just a lack of info on basic tools. Heck, if it's about platform availability, using an LLM to port ed to Windows (for example) should be trivial[1]. * * * [1] And there are probably a million existing ports. Also, sed, ex, vi, whatever.