mathieu@laptop:~$ fortune
mathieu@laptop:~/blog$ cat what-will-development-be-like.txt
"Mathieu, what will you be doing in the (short) future?", a question I got asked at the company I work for. And for the first time, I don't have a clear answer and that is because something is drastically changing. My days spent writing code is no more. Products, features and updates are written in days, not months or years. So what the hell will I be doing? The short answer: I'm not sure.
Doing the same, but more.
An obvious answer is to maximize productivity. And a logic answer because it is one of the driving factors of the industry. Since the early days of software development tools became better and better and productivity always increased. But this time, according to our code statistics, it is by a factor of 8*.
But doing more doesn't feel as a satisfying answer. Not because it doesn't feel good - it really does feel like superpowers (sometimes) - but because more is not (always) better. And a hard truth is, AI made development, or programming, a lot more accessible. Why would I need to enter a "prompt" while everyone can do that? See also my previous post.
Doing the same, but better.
Now machines can write code better and more efficiently, a better answer is to make it better. Multiple (security) checks, tests, code quality and the User Experience.
While you can easily double the amount of features in half of the time, not everyone can - and need - an overdose of new buttons and shiny toggles. But less tedious work, faster response, less clicking, improved onboarding? Yes please!
But a hard truth is, AI made that part also a lot more accessible and why would I be the one to enter the "prompts"?
Systems engineering?
There are many bubbles and sometimes I'm really impressed by the capabilities and sometimes I'm still underwhelmed by it. I'm still positively enthusiastic by AI, or LLM, but I also see that there are really, really big gaps in day to day usage of the technique. And while it is changing really fast, there is a whole world to catch up. If it ever gets there. Workflows, implementations and daily routines on every level is still different from company to company and from person to person. And there is still lots of stuff to do.
Until I find that magic mirror, I do not have a clear answer. Just keep moving forward.
mathieu@laptop:~$ fortune
