The words of Lee in this essay highlight the problem. Paraphrasing: "I didn't do it because I did not feel like doing it, because it felt unimportant/irrelevant

The words of Lee in this essay highlight the problem. Paraphrasing: "I didn't do it because I did not feel like doing it, because it felt unimportant/irrelevant/dumb." This is the hubris of youth talking. While this kind of thinking will teach you some practical skills, ultimately you become an operator, and not an engineer. CNC machine designers earn more than CNC machine operators. Car engine designers earn more than car mechanics. Computer chip engineers earn more than people who put computers together. Production line engineers earn more than production line workers. In software development, the titles are unclear, but there is a clear distinction between operators and engineers. Unfortunately we call them all programmers or developers or engineers, as the titles don't truly reflect the kind of work they are doing. When you work with someone though, you know which title they really deserve. It's hard to put it into words, but going forward, the operators will have a harder time finding work as automated AI-based tools will replace them. The only solution is to learn to become engineers, but with the kind of mindset that Lee flaunts in the above article, that is not going to happen. My advice: Learn the fundamentals. Don't cheat. Be curious and strive for deep understanding. It's tempting to cut corners, but already today I see a deluge of people who just don't have what it takes to engineer software.