Google's chatbot, Bard, has been upgraded in response to growing demand to assist users with programming tasks. It now supports 20 programming languages, including C++, Java, JavaScript, and Python, for generating, debugging, and explaining code. As part of its integration with other Google products, Bard can export code to Colab, a cloud-based Python notebook environment, and help users create functions for Sheets. The new feature is designed to help users who need assistance with their programming tasks achieve greater efficiency.
Along with generating code, Bard can now explain code snippets, which is particularly helpful for novice programmers to understand why certain code produces a particular output. Bard's code output, however, may not always be accurate or complete. Therefore, users are advised to review and test the code before implementing it.
“Bard is still an early experiment, and may sometimes provide inaccurate, misleading or false information while presenting it confidently. When it comes to coding, Bard may give you working code that doesn’t produce the expected output, or provide you with code that is not optimal or incomplete. Always double-check Bard’s responses and carefully test and review code for errors, bugs and vulnerabilities before relying on it,”
- outlines Paige Bailey, Group Product Manager, Google Research, on Google's blog
If Bard's code fails to perform, users can request to debug it by typing "this code didn't work, please fix it".
“Bard is already helping people with everyday tasks, from crafting presentations and writing lesson plans to inventing new recipes or planning a workout routine. With new coding capabilities, we’re excited to apply generative AI to accelerate software development, inspire innovation, and help people solve complex engineering challenges,”
- adds Paige Bailey
As a result of the new Bard feature, developers and programmers will be able to reduce the time required to develop and debug code for various applications or solutions in a client's software or program interface. Debugging and testing require several levels of checking through various teams of coders, testers, and debuggers, which can be time-consuming. As a result of Bard's new capability, coding, and debugging can be streamlined and made more efficient, resulting in faster development times and fewer reliances on multiple teams.
