posts: thoughts about typing code being over #5

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"title": "Thoughts About Typing Code Being Over",
"lead": "Reflecting on the impact of AI code generation on junior developers, the value of grinding through problems, and the future of software engineering careers.",
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"publishedAt": "2026-09-06",
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I have been ruminating on [this post](https://x.com/davidfowl/status/2095602923502010398) since first reading it. I understand it, and I can see the truth in it given how quickly you can generate code with an LLM. I won't lie: I still genuinely enjoy the experience of writing code by hand.
However, what gives me greater pause is the feeling that, to some extent, the tradeoff for an increasing reliance on LLMs is a decrease in my own knowledge and competence. So many of the people who inspire me, including David, didn't acquire their abilities by using AI. They spent two decades or more grinding away at problems. I am worried that in this new world, I will end up being robbed of those same development opportunities.
Maybe the truth is that these skills and knowledge won't matter moving forward. I don't quite see evidence of that yet; it seems like the people getting the most out of the LLM era are exactly these veteran folks. But if those skills eventually cease to matter, it raises the question: why waste any more time on this? Why not reinvest in some other field or career? That feels fatalistic, but it is also a reasonable path forward for someone like me who has at least another 19 years of mandatory work ahead.
I honestly don't know what the right answer is. I do think the conversation around this topic always needs to be bifurcated between what you do for fun and enjoyment, and what you do to put food on the table. The former is completely up to you, and all choices can be valid. The latter requires more thought and consideration, especially if you have other human beings relying on you for their economic well-being. You have to take into account the most important questions for a successful career: What am I good at? What do I want to spend my workdays doing? Does the world need that work? Will people pay me for that work?
I know it might seem silly to leap from "typing code is over" to "maybe I should be looking for a different career field." However, it feels like a valid thing to ponder, especially for someone who is only six years into this profession. We are facing a rapidly advancing technology that the most experienced people in our field are enamored with, and it appears to be reducing the need for developers at my level. At the very least, it is reducing the leverage that this knowledge and skill provide in earning a living.
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