ChatGPT

Two stories about ChatGPT

Two days ago I tweeted :

> I confess. I’ve succumbed and subscribed to ChatGPT Plus.

Eufrasio asked me why, so I replied

> It’s great for translating code from one programming language to another. For example, I had a version of [Gbloink!](http://gbloink.com) running in the browser, I wrote in CoffeeScript 10 yrs ago. There’s no future in CoffeeScript, but just translated it to Python, with GPT doing about 90% of the work

This is true. I’m hoping that I can release a new Python based version of Gbloink! this year. The Python is running in the browser thanks to [PyScript](https://pyscript.net/) But I should also be able to use it for a desktop app. I may even look into [Kivy](https://kivy.org/)

As an aside if you haven’t seen them, you might be interested to see that I’m actually having a lot of success now with the original (1997 era!) Gbloink! running with modern DAW software : [Gbloink! Playlist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7PD00jvCy0&list=PLuBDEereAQUyAPJZDGe85dKWMPnDXqodP)

Anyway, on the main topic of ChatGPT, Abraham asked

> How’s it looking so far? Worth every penny?

And I answered :

> Currently (since payment) it’s given me some code to add a) auto-complete to the “move card” field in Cardigan Bay. And b) to check broken links in a page.

> I haven’t integrated them in yet, but I hope to in the next couple of days. If they work it’s a definite productivity boost.

Which brings us to the second story, as I tweeted today :

> Damn! OK. So #chatgpt just bullshitted me (or at least helped reinforce rather than correct my own stupidity)

> I wanted to write a script to check broken links out of my wiki. And I got Chat to help me write it in Clojure.

> Of course, I was thinking it would be nice to have this running in the browser. A handy component at the bottom of pages that checked all the external links on them to tell me if they were still valid.

> So after some back and forth, it seems like me and chat got the code working.

> And then I hit the CORS problem …

> Of course you can’t run this in the browser. And when asked directly, #chatgpt KNOWS you can’t.

> But it’s happily accompanied me along the path of writing a nice interactive Reagent based widget for doing all this work in the browser.

> Now I thought I was smart enough to use #chatgpt and NOT be caught out by its bullshit.

> And I now realise that’s bollocks.

> Yes, I can totally be fooled by it.

> I hope I’m wiser now.

Which I think is a good summary of where I am.

Yes, ChatGPT is an incredible productivity boost. And, it’s even good for “rubber ducking”, ie. having “someone” to talk a problem through with. I’m not regretting subscribing. BUT … you ALWAYS have to be alert that it can confidently assert things that aren’t true or don’t make sense.