Readit News logoReadit News
eries commented on Solveit – A course and platform for solving problems with code   answer.ai/posts/2025-10-0... · Posted by u/eries
tomhow · 2 months ago
OK thanks. We've moved those comments (and this one) to a hidden "stub" subthread.

A reminder to everyone that the FAQ includes this:

Can I ask people to comment on my submission?

No, for the same reason. It's also not in your interest: HN readers are sensitive to this and will detect it, flag it, and use unkind words like 'spam'.

==

For all we know the Solveit guys didn't ask anyone to come and comment here, so we don't want to judge them (and they're good guys who have contributed positively to HN in the past). Sometimes people in a community – particularly an engaged and loyal one like Solveit’s seems to be – can be "too helpful" and act as though they're astroturfing, even though they're just sharing their excitement about the product and community.

The problem on HN is that it can be hard to tell the difference between authentic excitement and astroturfing.

eries · 2 months ago
Thanks for the assumption of good faith. We had no intent to astroturf. Some of the students from cohort one were discussing the negativity of the HN thread on the course discord server. It seems that several took it upon themselves to come share their experience. From the comments whose names I recognize, I can assure that these are all real people who have first-hand knowledge of what they're posting about.
eries commented on Solveit – A course and platform for solving problems with code   answer.ai/posts/2025-10-0... · Posted by u/eries
getnormality · 2 months ago
I couldn't love more all the intentions behind this, but I have no idea what it is. Why would someone who already knows and loves Polya and iterative programming and human-centered technology... use this? What is the value add?
eries · 2 months ago
Jeremy attempted a summary here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45456928

but, honestly, I hope that list makes you see why we had a hard time figuring out how to summarize what solveit is. For example, I use it for research and writing all the time, but you'd have a hard time seeing why a notebook plus a private VPS would do much for that use case. But it does! Having a general-purpose computing environment is just very, very useful in a wide range of situations.

eries commented on Solveit – A course and platform for solving problems with code   answer.ai/posts/2025-10-0... · Posted by u/eries
pedalpete · 2 months ago
That's a good explanation, but I think the expectation when someone says they are "launching something" that is an antidote to AI fatigue, it may be better to say it's a course and a methodology. You aren't launching a tool.
eries · 2 months ago
I think if you give it a try, you'll be surprised. It is a course and a tool and a way of thinking. We often struggle to find concise language to describe something that is fundamentally new. Maybe after you've tried it, you'll be able to help us explain it better.
eries commented on Solveit – A course and platform for solving problems with code   answer.ai/posts/2025-10-0... · Posted by u/eries
eries · 2 months ago
I thought it might be helpful to post a link to one of my favorite writeups from the beta cohort for solveit (last year). It's written by Chris Thomas:

https://christhomas.co.uk/blog/2025/09/24/the-human-is-the-a...

a few quotes/excerpts:

  Being among the first 1000 people to experience SolveIt has felt like witnessing the early days of a significant shift in how we work with AI. As someone who is a seasoned programmer, I have seen many programming paradigms and the advance of AI coding tools. What makes SolveIt different is not just another tool or framework - it is a fundamental rethinking of the human-AI relationship.

  As I look at my experience with SolveIt, I think this is a better more sustainable approach to AI-assisted development. The current trend of ever more powerful models generating ever larger blocks of code feels unsustainable. SolveIt offers a different path. By maintaining human agency, working in comprehensible increments and building genuine understanding at each step, it creates a positive feedback loop where both human and AI capabilities grow stronger over time. This represents a partnership model that builds competence over time rather than creating dependence.
  
  The implications extend far beyond programming. Whether I am implementing computer vision algorithms, exploring culinary science, or writing technical articles - the same principles apply. Small steps, continuous understanding, iterative refinement and always keeping the human as the agent in the process.

eries commented on Solveit – A course and platform for solving problems with code   answer.ai/posts/2025-10-0... · Posted by u/eries
Diti · 2 months ago
The AI is an integral part of the platform. My impression from reading the reviews on their website is that you won’t go anywhere using Solveit if you don’t let the LLM give you feedback.

Sigh. I agree with the parent poster’s sentiment.

eries · 2 months ago
as someone who uses solveit all the time, this has not been my experience
eries commented on Solveit – A course and platform for solving problems with code   answer.ai/posts/2025-10-0... · Posted by u/eries
sentrysapper · 2 months ago
dang. thought this was a service for people tired of reading about AI.
eries · 2 months ago
in a way, it is
eries commented on Solveit – A course and platform for solving problems with code   answer.ai/posts/2025-10-0... · Posted by u/eries
eries · 2 months ago
Hey everyone, Eric Ries here. solveit is the AI environment I personally have been using every day for months, not just for code but for writing and research, too.

it’s solved all the problems and frustrations I’ve had with both vibecoding and the limitations of the chatbot interface for doing deep work that requires concentration + the ability to understand the artifacts you are producing

and, as a special bonus, people in this course will get a sneak preview of the new book I’m working on. we’re going to use it both to teach some of the concepts from it (on how to create mission-driven long-term companies) and how to use solveit for longform writing projects

happy to answer any questions here, for folks that want to learn more,

Eric

eries commented on Lessons from history's greatest R&D labs   answer.ai/posts/2024-01-2... · Posted by u/jph00
8en · 2 years ago
What service was used to create the Ai voice? It's one of the first I've heard that sounds pleasant and life like.
eries · 2 years ago
I believe it was done with OpenAI TTS

u/eries

KarmaCake day1959September 6, 2008View Original