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How many financially self-sustaining software developers should there be? AI code generation has caused the number to fall, but FOSS before that likely made it

How many financially self-sustaining software developers should there be? AI code generation has caused the number to fall, but FOSS before that likely made it fall as well. I can keep playing this game, as can others. Why do we need all that money invested in data collection and disseminating cat videos, political unrest, etc.

_9ptr 1y ago
Well in this case someone seems to employ and pay these software developers. We can only speculate about the future having more AI-code or the repercussions thereof (as many do).
Ekaros 1y ago
Answer is enough to sustainably run needs of modern society. And that number is probably significantly lower than we now have. And for me with musicians the number is zero.
- ringeryless 1y ago
  ? you are suggesting that zero musicians are required by society in order for society to function?
- jleyank 1y ago
  I would rather musicians get paid in genres that I can’t stand than see the legion of programmers employed in “social media” and “on line marketing” and other things that keep people isolated and usually angry. Hell of a lot better things re personal and social interaction than having my phone glued to my wallet or my amygdala.
  - Ekaros 1y ago
    Neither musicians or social media is needed for modern life. Or even online marketing... You probably want digital payment systems like banking and warehouse management. But I am thinking those sort of areas are only fraction of modern software industry.
orangecat 1y ago
AI code generation has caused the number to fall Not at all clear. FOSS before that likely made it fall as well Almost certainly false. Imagine a world where the concept of open source never happened, so if you want a website you have to pay thousands of dollars for web servers, compilers, databases, etc. Would the demand for software developers be higher or lower than in our world?
- jleyank 1y ago
  That world existed and we all lived through it. Hobbyists really hated paying for software, as did academics. Fair number of people being paid to write code as there was nothing commercial that didn’t require customization. Or, smaller sites did it with a few programmers rather than renting software. No web though, nor phones so it’s not a fair comparison to today. But there were really skilled hackers doing open software in the 60’s.

_9ptr 1y ago

Well in this case someone seems to employ and pay these software developers. We can only speculate about the future having more AI-code or the repercussions thereof (as many do).

Ekaros 1y ago

Answer is enough to sustainably run needs of modern society. And that number is probably significantly lower than we now have. And for me with musicians the number is zero.

ringeryless 1y ago
? you are suggesting that zero musicians are required by society in order for society to function?
jleyank 1y ago
I would rather musicians get paid in genres that I can’t stand than see the legion of programmers employed in “social media” and “on line marketing” and other things that keep people isolated and usually angry. Hell of a lot better things re personal and social interaction than having my phone glued to my wallet or my amygdala.
- Ekaros 1y ago
  Neither musicians or social media is needed for modern life. Or even online marketing... You probably want digital payment systems like banking and warehouse management. But I am thinking those sort of areas are only fraction of modern software industry.

orangecat 1y ago

AI code generation has caused the number to fall Not at all clear. FOSS before that likely made it fall as well Almost certainly false. Imagine a world where the concept of open source never happened, so if you want a website you have to pay thousands of dollars for web servers, compilers, databases, etc. Would the demand for software developers be higher or lower than in our world?

jleyank 1y ago
That world existed and we all lived through it. Hobbyists really hated paying for software, as did academics. Fair number of people being paid to write code as there was nothing commercial that didn’t require customization. Or, smaller sites did it with a few programmers rather than renting software. No web though, nor phones so it’s not a fair comparison to today. But there were really skilled hackers doing open software in the 60’s.