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Issue 290: Can you feel the vibes tonight?

Let's address the elephant in the room: yes, vibe coding is happening, and there's not much we can do to stop it. Wherever you land on the optimist-pessimist spectrum for AI-generated code, we've got stories for you. Optimist Quinn Slack from Sourcegraph joined the pod to talk AI coding in enterprise environments and how he imagines these tools are going to change the software engineering lifecycle. If you're looking for the downer side of the spectrum, read about the misadventures of the worst coder on our team, who tried to build something purely off vibes, only for it to be a mess of security issues. Don't worry, no data was hurt in the making of her app. XX

If you're yearning for the early days of computers, when vibe coding was just a sci-fi dream, check out our pod with early adopter of Python and developer advocate Paul Everitt, who dives into the history of Python and what makes its community special. Then, go even further back in time and read a story from the web on the (surprisingly spicy) history of teletext around the world. If that cures your nostalgia, you can come back to the present and figure out with the rest of us how to fight AI slop...with more AI slop, probably. XX

But if you need a break from thinking about the past and future of the internet, that's all right too. We've always got helpful answers for you. Why do your dishes smell so bad? Who should you ask to help you move this weekend, your taller or shorter friends? Do you sound exciting or neurotic when you add twenty exclamation points to the end of your paragraph?!!!! It's all covered in the links below.

From the blog

Python: Come for the language, stay for the community

Ryan welcomes Paul Everitt, developer advocate at JetBrains and an early adopter of Python, to discuss the history, growth, and future of Python. They cover Python’s pivotal moments and rise alongside the internet, the increased adoption from transitions like Python 2 to Python 3, and the significant role Python plays in academia and data science today.

A new worst coder has entered the chat: vibe coding without code knowledge

In the age of AI, being able to make applications and create code has never been easier. But is it any good? Here's what vibe coding is like for someone without technical skills.

Being unambiguous in what you want: the software engineer in a vibe coding world

Quinn Slack, CEO and co-founder of Sourcegraph, joins the show to dive into the implications of AI coding tools on the software engineering lifecycle. They explore how AI tools are transforming the work of developers from syntax-focused tasks to higher-level design and management roles and how AI will integrate into enterprise environments.

Cross-pollination as a strategic advantage for forward-thinking organizations

Innovation is at the heart of any successful, growing company, and often that culture begins with an engaged, interconnected organization.

Interesting questions

What is the best (or at least appropriate) way to deal with "AI slop" messages, emails and requests?

Maybe the best way to deal with AI slop is with AI slop.

Who makes most effort when two people of different heights lift a table?

Now the tall people in your life can brag about getting the best views at concerts AND not having to lift as much.

Can you use multiple exclamation points to make a character sound energetic while writing first person?

Not to get too excited, but this seems like you need to take a writing class!!!!!!

Why do some of my dishes smell bad?

“It’s hard for me to describe the smell, but the closest I can come is ‘wet dog.’”

Links from around the web

One million screenshots

1,048,576 screenshots of the 1,048,576 top websites around the web just in case you want to waste 1,048,576 minutes browsing them.

A global look at teletext

Teletext is apparently a format that just won't quit in Europe.

How does a blind model see the earth?

If LLMs are someday going to make the world go 'round, they better figure out what it looks like.

Designing software in the large

Making your code too complex is hurting everyone, including you.

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