Humility in the Age of Agentic Coding - Practical AI Recap

Podcast: Practical AI

Published: 2026-03-17

Duration: 55 min

Guests: Steve Klabnik

What Happened

Steve Klabnik, a seasoned software engineer with a diverse background in programming and literature, joined the podcast to discuss his evolving perspective on AI. Initially an AI skeptic, Klabnik's views shifted after engaging with non-programmers who found practical uses for AI tools like ChatGPT. He realized that while developers focus on deterministic code, many users are comfortable with AI's imperfections because they treat computers as inherently unreliable.

Klabnik highlighted the significance of source control in software development, explaining that his current work at East River Source Control involves developing tooling around the JJ version control system. This work aligns with his belief that understanding AI is essential for future software collaboration.

The conversation touched on Klabnik's past contributions to the Rust programming language and his experience as an author of 'The Rust Programming Language' book. He shared how his interest in compilers and programming languages led him to experiment with AI in developing Rue, a new programming language.

Klabnik described Rue as a mix of influences from languages like Rust, Go, and Swift, aiming to balance performance with developer experience. He leveraged AI tools to aid in the development process, which he found to be a skill that improves with practice. This approach allowed him to work on Rue more effectively despite time constraints.

Discussing the future of software development, Klabnik emphasized the need to re-evaluate traditional practices such as code quality and the dry principle. He argued that with AI tools, some practices might need to be adjusted, as they were developed for human limitations that AI can overcome.

The podcast also addressed the impact of AI on software engineering jobs. Klabnik suggested that while AI might change the nature of software development, it could lead to a demand for more developers rather than fewer, as increased productivity enables more projects and ideas to be realized.

Key Insights

• Steve Klabnik's shift from AI skepticism was influenced by non-programmers who found AI tools practically useful, despite their imperfections. This realization led him to explore AI's potential in software development.
• At East River Source Control, Klabnik is working on tooling for the JJ version control system, highlighting the importance of understanding AI for future software collaboration.
• Klabnik's development of Rue, a new programming language, was aided by AI tools. This experience demonstrated that using AI in programming requires skill and practice, which he believes can significantly enhance productivity.
• Traditional software development practices like the dry principle may need re-evaluation in the context of AI tools, as these practices were designed for human limitations that AI can overcome.