  Software engineers have historically relied on human-powered Q&A platforms,
like Stack Overflow (SO), as coding aids. With the rise of generative AI,
developers have adopted AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, in their software
development process. Recognizing the potential parallels between human-powered
Q&A platforms and AI-powered question-based chatbots, we investigate and
compare how developers integrate this assistance into their real-world coding
experiences by conducting thematic analysis of Reddit posts. Through a
comparative study of SO and ChatGPT, we identified each platform's strengths,
use cases, and barriers. Our findings suggest that ChatGPT offers fast, clear,
comprehensive responses and fosters a more respectful environment than SO.
However, concerns about ChatGPT's reliability stem from its overly confident
tone and the absence of validation mechanisms like SO's voting system. Based on
these findings, we recommend leveraging each platform's unique features to
improve developer experiences in the future.
