Coding without LLMs: Syntax rust and the clunky feel of copy-paste

johnowhitaker · x · 2026-08-31

A developer tried coding without LLMs, relying only on docs and Stack Overflow. They were surprised by how rusty their basic JS syntax had become and how clunky the old copy-paste-edit workflow felt. The post also reflects on the mental shift when interrupted, noting that while AI coding is immersive, the AI handles the small details, making the loss of mental context less jarring.

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