Entries this day: chatgpt-helped-me-write-some-simple-code

chatgpt helped me write some simple code

(written 10:22 Saturday 14 January 2023 JST)

Chat GPT helped me out yesterday. I didn't want to be bothered to search how to do this, and embarrassingly I didn't know instantly how to do it with abs() but I knew it was easier than a bunch of crap my brain was thinking.

Here was my prompt:

write php code to check if two numbers are within 10000 of each other

In a trice, I got this back:

This code uses the abs() function to calculate the absolute
difference between $num1 and $num2. If this difference is less
than or equal to 10000, the message "The numbers are within 10000
of each other" will be printed. Otherwise, the message "The
numbers are not within 10000 of each other" will be printed.

Wow. Well, that ain't bad, but it could be better:

use a variable for the constant

In this code, we have a variable $difference that holds the
constant value of 10000. This value is then used in the comparison
to check if the difference between $num1 and $num2 is less than or
equal to $difference. This allows you to easily change the
threshold for "within x of each other" by changing the value of
the $difference variable.

Then I tried to really push the limits with a horribly unclear and unpunctuated query:

why wouldn't you call difference tolerance?

Misunderstaning my meaning, it gave an otherwise reasonable response:

"Difference tolerance" would be a more appropriate name for the
variable that holds the constant value of 10000, as it represents
the tolerance or range within which the numbers are considered to
be close to each other. Naming variables in a way that reflects
their purpose makes the code more readable and easier to
understand. The term "difference tolerance" gives a clear
indication of what the variable is used for, whereas the term
"constant" does not.

It could also be named "threshold" or "range", as it represents
the range within which the two numbers are considered close to
each other.

I decided to go easy, using some punctuation:

well, fix the name of the constant

In this code, the variable $tolerance holds the constant value of
10000, which represents the range within which the two numbers are
considered to be close to each other. The variable is
appropriately named "tolerance" as it reflects the purpose of the
variable. This makes the code more readable and easy to
understand.

Wow. Interesting enough to post it here.

Screenshots: