If we are going to use AI to make C code, why not use it to make Assembler code? Or would a good compiler be about as efficient?
The specs are the code.
Then you can tell the agent to build it in whatever language you want.
So why not assembler?
I’ve never coded in C before, so I told Claude Code to build me a sophisticated application that is a common use case for using C, and document it so I can easily follow what the code is doing, and then told it to create a Guide that walks through the code with thorough instructions on how to build it from start to finish with Visual Studio Code.
And I also told it that I am proficient at both Java and Python, so write the doco for someone who knows those languages, and provide reference points.
So basically it’s a technical book that’s personalized for your background.
A great C compiler produces outstanding assembly code. Complete with understandings of the cache, out of order execution, and all the intricacies of the target CPU. As a guy who learned BASIC and assembly at the same time I get what you’re saying, but yes, modern C compilers are good enough.