As technology continues to advance, the role of software engineers has become increasingly important. With the rise of AI and large language models like GPT and GitHub Copilot, many people are wondering what the future of software engineering looks like. Some fear that AI will replace human software engineers altogether, but the reality is that these tools are here to make our jobs easier and more efficient.

What is ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot?

ChatGPT is a large language model developed by OpenAI that can be used to generate human-like text. It has been trained on a vast corpus of text, allowing it to generate text in a variety of styles and formats. GitHub Copilot, on the other hand, is an AI-powered code completion tool developed by GitHub. It uses machine learning to suggest code snippets as developers write, helping to speed up the coding process.

Benefits of Incorporating ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot into Your Workflow

Incorporating ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot into your workflow can remove tedious aspects of software engineering. When working in a new language or API library, you no longer have to endlessly google for things you already know. Just describe your problem to ChatGPT and get a huge head start on your project. Or get good at coding alongside Copilot. If you structure your code base well and write good comments that describe what you want to do, Copilot can often get the logic problems right. It's a symbiotic relationship.

Becoming a Cyborg Software Engineer

But what is a cyborg, you ask? A cyborg is a human who has been enhanced with technology. And with tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, you have the opportunity to become a cyborg software engineer. You can combine your own human intuition and creativity with the power of AI to create something truly amazing.

As a software engineer, your job is to translate and break down a business problem into software problems. Your job is to know what questions to ask and what answers to accept. And with the help of ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, you can do this even more efficiently.

The Future of Software Engineering

In fact, GitHub Copilot isn't done investigating yet. Their next big product release will turn an issue or PR description into a full-blown code commit. So, as a software engineer, it's time to get really good at writing GitHub issues and reviewing PRs.

Many people equate engineering to writing code, but engineering is not about coding. It's about solving business problems in the simplest way possible. Code is just a tool to achieve that end and the less code you write to solve your problems, the better. It's less work to maintain, and faster to launch as well.

Final thoughts

So, the future of software engineering isn't about fighting against AI and large language models. It's about embracing these tools and becoming a cyborg software engineer. With ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, the possibilities are endless. So, go forth and become the cyborg you were always meant to be!