The Programmer’s Oath
In order to defend and preserve the honor of the profession of computer programmers, I promise that, to the best of my ability and judgment:
I will not produce harmful code, whether written by hand or generated by machine. The output is mine.
The code that I produce will always be my best work. I will not knowingly allow code that is defective either in behavior or structure to accumulate, regardless of how it was created.
I will produce, with each release, a quick, sure, and repeatable proof that every element of the code works as it should. I will not trust without verifying.
I will make frequent, small releases so that I do not impede the progress of others. I will resist the temptation to generate large amounts of code I cannot fully comprehend.
I will fearlessly and relentlessly improve my creations at every opportunity. I will never degrade them. I cannot improve what I do not understand.
I will do all that I can to keep the productivity of myself and others as high as possible. I recognize that apparent productivity without comprehension is debt, not progress.
I will continuously ensure that others can cover for me, and that I can cover for them. I will not create code that only I—or only an AI—can explain.
I will produce estimates that are honest both in magnitude and precision. I will not make promises without certainty. I will not confuse the speed of generation with the speed of completion.
I will never stop learning and improving my craft. I will not outsource my understanding to machines.
I will maintain my judgment and wisdom. I will use AI as an amplifier of my capability, not a replacement for my responsibility.