AI
My obituary for programming
Publication: Simon Willison's Weblog
Author: Not available in collected metadata
Source published: 19/10/2026, 23:58:25 UTC
Briefing created: 20/10/2026, 19:45:19 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 20/10/2026, 19:42:24 UTC.
Briefings
Jeremy Scheff argues that coding agents transformed programming from a puzzle-solving career into a high-paying job, where programmers defined strategies and timelines rather than solving problems. This shift occurred around 2026, affecting professionals who thrived on building systems and enjoyed the autonomy of defining solutions. The article highlights the loss of creative autonomy for those who valued the process of problem-solving over the final outcome.
Key points
- Programmers who enjoyed defining strategies and timelines for logic puzzles found their careers disrupted by generative AI agents.
- The article suggests that while coding agents are a 'gift that keeps on giving' for system builders, they represent a significant loss for those who valued the puzzle-solving aspect of their work.
Context
Jeremy Scheff's article on lobste.rs discusses the career impact of generative AI coding agents, specifically noting how they replaced the 'puzzle of developing code' with a high-paying job where programmers define solutions rather than solve them.
Limitations
Evidence is limited to a single article from October 2026; no broader industry statistics, specific company data, or longitudinal study results are provided. The article does not specify the exact date of the initial disruption or the total number of affected programmers.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 20/10/2026, 19:45:19 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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