My interpretation is that the AI policy is in regard to using AI to generate posts/replies (beyond translation), code examples, etc. to post here, and doesnāt apply to discussion of AI or showcasing AI tooling that is built with Zig.
Perhaps I am just misunderstanding, but the development for the technology itself using Zig is still welcome?
what about using AI for refactoring of Zig code? e.g.
- Replace automatic pointer dereference with explicit ptr.* syntax
- Add explicit types to all variable declarations
- Migrate Zig 0.14.1 to 0.15.2
it may be done with Zaica
I am just a lowly member here and have nothing to do with policy, so it is probably best for someone with more authority on the matter to clarify, but the main takeaway is that the policy is in regard to the actual posts you create here, nothing to do with how you decide to write your code, nor what AI tools you use to accomplish that with, if any.
We just donāt want to waste time helping people debug AI hallucinations or discussing language design with an LLM, but using them is fine if they work for you, and developing projects for them is definitely okay. The policy is in regard to generating text when posting in this forum, not dictating what you choose to do when writing your own code.
The Policy is in reference to using AI to communicate on ziggit (Using it to write posts) it also is about not asking us to debug AI generated code. It is not the intention or desire of the moderation team to look through projects and see if they use AI, or to limit discussion about AI as long as it is germane to the purpose of this Forum. We are working on clarifying that part of the policy. However if you have questions, about whether something violates the policy please direct them towards the moderation team.
some time ago i posted links to my gists with prompts for claude code for
refactoring of Zig code:
| 1. Replace automatic pointer dereference with explicit ptr.* syntax |
|---|
| 2. Add explicit types to all variable declarations |
| 3. Migrating a Zig project from version 0.14.1 to 0.15.2 |
I used these prompts for refactoring my own projects and thought it wold help others
I was forced to delete my post
just FYI
I donāt have the full details, but from what I remember you chose to delete your own topic, I donāt remember anyone from the moderation team asking you to delete it, if we think that something needs to be deleted, we delete it, instead of forcing people to delete it.
I remember thinking that it is more talking/discussion about using AI with Zig and that it would be still allowed, but you already had deleted it before I wrote anything.
I think AI is a difficult topic, because there are so many strong opinions about it and I think we all have to calm down and slow down a bit, no matter whether you find AI useful or terrible.
We canāt be trigger happy and frantically start playing wack-a-mole every time somebody mentions AI, so I ask everyone to re-read the AI Policy and if things are unclear please direct your questions towards the moderation team.
I remember that post. I think posting prompts for AI to generate Zig codes, even just for refactoring, violates the following AI policy:
- AI Generated Code: Do not use AI to generate code, and present it untested. AI Coding assistants can be powerful; However with a moving target like zig, their usefulness is limited. Ziggit hopes to help others with learning zig. Throwing in bad code just obfuscates the process even more.
For example, when migrating a project from Zig 0.14.1 to 0.15.2, people should be encouraged to learn the new features of the Zig and why the old features are deprecated, and why your codes donāt work in the new versions. If your codes heavily rely on some deprecated features, the AI may unreasonably choose or mix alternative features to make your codes work, which can be a big mess, and your codes can perform differently, and the readability may also be questionable. This ultimately breaks the purpose of āZiggit hopes to help others with learning zigāā¦
However, I do agree that the moderators can add more details into the policy to reduce confusion.
Certainly, but the policyās
comment I assume is suppose to fulcrum on āand present it untestedā - do that all you want, at home, just donāt use it to generate code to post in ziggit. Thatās how I read it.
great!
we are discussing ai issues
i am not sure that āsite feedbackā is right category
it worth āBrainstormingāā
My opinion on it is, āItās just a tool.ā
It cannot replace your own head and understanding of the things. I used it to speed up the process of learning Zig and especially syntax at the start. Regarding logic and overall direction of the codebase is of my own making. I ask it for suggestions then I evaluate.
Regarding bumping up versions, Iād agree on not to use it. At that point you stop learning and understanding your own code which is a big NO for me.
For overall coding principles, I am using it for learning because I lack knowledge in that part and it just speeds up things but I always stop and slow down when I start losing myself in the code.
I believe when I say that we here at Ziggit donāt want to see plain AI prompts, most people agree with me. āIf I want to see an AI prompt, Iād use AI chatbot, not a human forum.ā If you post AI code untested, itās just shows your own sloppiness. If you post an AI prompt as it is, I see it as either as a lack of understanding or laziness to describe in your own words how you understood it.
Go ahead, use it, but remember that we are here on the forum to communicate with humans in the first place, not AI. We want to hear your own opinions, thoughts and understanding as a human, not a machine.
No one will be, or was, forced to delete a post. If moderators judge that a post must be deleted, weāll delete it.
If we decide that a post has to be edited, that post will be hidden, and the poster will get a DM asking it to be edited to comport to standards.
In this case, neither of those things happened.
I said a bunch of things in reply to your post, but primarily, and before the rest of it, I said that thereās a line, and your post did not cross that line.
I did not intend to pressure you into deleting the post, Iām much more direct than that, and I was surprised when you decided to do so.
If youād like to discuss that interaction in more detail, you can message me about it. Or if youād prefer to re-post your Showcase, you can do that also.
Iām posting because I want everyone to be clear about this: if the moderators decide your posts need to be deleted or edited, it will proceed as I described it, and if those things donāt happen, you do not have to change or remove your posts to stay in good standing here.
Iām mostly reiterating what @Sze already said, but as Iām the mod who responded to your post, that seemed worth doing.
Iām afraid something lost in translation 
After consulting with AI , I realized I should have written that
āI felt compelled toā¦ā
rather than āforcedā
In my language we use the same word for both meanings