See my other comment. But, IMHO, you sit at a time where you will be able to make more cool things faster than anyone has ever been able to before. And that if you are a curious person and/or voracious absorber of information, you could become a skilled developer quite quickly and begin to use the tools in more meaningful ways and have a lot of fun and a cool career ahead of you.
I have been doing this about 12 years, and am quite comfortable in my position though. I can understand anxieties for new entrants in an industry that historically has been solid and reliable alongside high-paying. But fundamental shifts in how we work don't necessarily mean gloom. It means innovation on fronts that we haven't had to think about it for a while.
If making things excites you, its a great time to be doing it.
I can understand anxieties for new entrants in an industry that historically has been solid and reliable alongside high-paying
I started in tech in the 90's. Between 1994-2014 I worked _way_ more than most people in most industries because IT (and management) is one of those exempt labor categorizes. High-paying, sure... but when you spend a decade or two working 50-55 hours a week the hourly rate ain't so good. :)
I guess it depends on how you come in. I was in a position where I came around 2012 with some self taught skills and managed to start out with a 50-60 hour grind but 70k wage and climb slowly into the 250+ range in the ~decade since.
However, I location-optimized. I started in rural Ohio ~2hrs from Detroit, and ended up in New York City after some bouncing to smaller tech cities climbing the ladder. But I think my hourly rate comes out pretty great, even historically to my career beginning, especially for a non-college-grad.
I want to echo some of my sibling comments… none of us believe that GOOD software engineering is going anywhere soon.
If you can pass a fizz-buzz interview screen, that’s a different story.
I would also suggest creating content about to interests. Live coding or explanatory videos that could be useful to somebody else, attract attention to you, and prove you are no AI-fraud if they actually hire you.
Depending on your skill, consulting offers will (probably) come your way without much marketing effort.
I have had recent meetings with management teams that believe this. I mean, yea, some of them are delusional (and not just about AI) but they are so excited about the idea of not having to pay humans any more.
Here's the thing: I see management at software companies salivating with the idea of replacing developers with AI, but where is the value add? Why would companies (especially eneterprise) pay them? for their sales teams or executives? If AI takes over customers can just do it themselves with the in-house IT teams, so developers are likely to be the last impacted if this ever happens.
Oh I fully believe managers think this is just around the corner, but the evidence that it is is just not there. There'll be layoffs and as there are there'll be new opportunities to backfill all the positions when the magic AI doesn't deliver - even if it's just "yes I totally wrote this with AI" while doing normal coding things.
Though I'd say the bigger hallmark it's nowhere near is the more obvious one: code has to work, which AI isn't good at. It's very good at sending emails though - replacing the managers is the more likely thing to happen first. Why have a layer of middle management when scheduling software, AI summaries and agentic tools could empower 1 person to direct multiple teams and where hallucinations or mistakes are more easily corrected since nothing crashes you just have a slightly confused subordinate at times?
Comments
I'm 19, been doing software (as a hobby) for the past five years, should I continue pursuing it or look into something else?
Do things you like. The economic situation will go up and down, but spending your life doing something you dislike will never be worth it.
See my other comment. But, IMHO, you sit at a time where you will be able to make more cool things faster than anyone has ever been able to before. And that if you are a curious person and/or voracious absorber of information, you could become a skilled developer quite quickly and begin to use the tools in more meaningful ways and have a lot of fun and a cool career ahead of you.
I have been doing this about 12 years, and am quite comfortable in my position though. I can understand anxieties for new entrants in an industry that historically has been solid and reliable alongside high-paying. But fundamental shifts in how we work don't necessarily mean gloom. It means innovation on fronts that we haven't had to think about it for a while.
If making things excites you, its a great time to be doing it.
I wholeheartedly agree with you, but:
I started in tech in the 90's. Between 1994-2014 I worked _way_ more than most people in most industries because IT (and management) is one of those exempt labor categorizes. High-paying, sure... but when you spend a decade or two working 50-55 hours a week the hourly rate ain't so good. :)
I guess it depends on how you come in. I was in a position where I came around 2012 with some self taught skills and managed to start out with a 50-60 hour grind but 70k wage and climb slowly into the 250+ range in the ~decade since.
However, I location-optimized. I started in rural Ohio ~2hrs from Detroit, and ended up in New York City after some bouncing to smaller tech cities climbing the ladder. But I think my hourly rate comes out pretty great, even historically to my career beginning, especially for a non-college-grad.
I want to echo some of my sibling comments… none of us believe that GOOD software engineering is going anywhere soon.
If you can pass a fizz-buzz interview screen, that’s a different story.
I would also suggest creating content about to interests. Live coding or explanatory videos that could be useful to somebody else, attract attention to you, and prove you are no AI-fraud if they actually hire you.
Depending on your skill, consulting offers will (probably) come your way without much marketing effort.
Keep doing it, get formal training if you can or better any job getting your foot in the door.
Anyone telling you you'll be replaced by AI soon is delusional.
I have had recent meetings with management teams that believe this. I mean, yea, some of them are delusional (and not just about AI) but they are so excited about the idea of not having to pay humans any more.
Here's the thing: I see management at software companies salivating with the idea of replacing developers with AI, but where is the value add? Why would companies (especially eneterprise) pay them? for their sales teams or executives? If AI takes over customers can just do it themselves with the in-house IT teams, so developers are likely to be the last impacted if this ever happens.
Oh I fully believe managers think this is just around the corner, but the evidence that it is is just not there. There'll be layoffs and as there are there'll be new opportunities to backfill all the positions when the magic AI doesn't deliver - even if it's just "yes I totally wrote this with AI" while doing normal coding things.
Though I'd say the bigger hallmark it's nowhere near is the more obvious one: code has to work, which AI isn't good at. It's very good at sending emails though - replacing the managers is the more likely thing to happen first. Why have a layer of middle management when scheduling software, AI summaries and agentic tools could empower 1 person to direct multiple teams and where hallucinations or mistakes are more easily corrected since nothing crashes you just have a slightly confused subordinate at times?
Wait, maybe I do want an AI-powered project manager than proactively manages risk.....