Modifying Existing Code

The cluster focuses on discussions about the challenges, preferences, and limitations of editing or changing existing codebases, particularly regarding AI tools' abilities to make targeted modifications without rewriting everything.

➡️ Stable 0.6x AI & Machine Learning
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Comments
20
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5
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#1044
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Keywords

API AI XP code change changes codebase want change shit existing code maintainable struct code code

Sample Comments

aw1621107 Jan 4, 2023 View on HN

Ah, that's fair. Didn't think of code that couldn't be changed.

TrainedMonkey Aug 21, 2025 View on HN

It has a strong preference to only change pieces of code you asked it to touch.

heavenlyblue Nov 22, 2018 View on HN

I did not imply you can change the codebase, by the way.

oneeyedpigeon Jan 10, 2026 View on HN

Wouldn't the AI that wrote the original code be in a better position to modify it too?

sizzle Jun 20, 2018 View on HN

Couldn't they just reweite the code after leatving your solution?

webmobdev Sep 27, 2021 View on HN

That makes sense - I didn't consider that you may want to change the code yourself.

labster Nov 8, 2017 View on HN

It's a code revision, not an article. If you're a programmer the change is super obvious.

RedMist Aug 29, 2025 View on HN

No, making edits to an exiting codebase.(If that's what you meant)

pkilgore Dec 5, 2022 View on HN

Until it can change existing code, I think we're ok.

abstractspoon Sep 6, 2025 View on HN

I agree but it's hard to change tack on older code based without confusing things further