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While I read this article, Claude code was fixing a bug for me. I agree with Cal that we basically don’t know what happens next. But I do know that the world n

While I read this article, Claude code was fixing a bug for me. I agree with Cal that we basically don’t know what happens next. But I do know that the world needs a lot more good software and expanding the scope of what good software professionals can do for companies is positive.

thinkingtoilet 1y ago
I wonder if you would say this if, say, in a year you're laid off because AI got good enough to write your code. Would you be happy that there is better software in the world at the expense of your job?
- iambateman 1y ago
  I’m optimistic - perhaps naively - about my ability to retool within work. 10 years ago, I was building WordPress websites for motivational speakers. Today, I build web apps for the government. Certainly in 10 years we will be in a different place than we are today. Your argument, taken in a broader sense, would have us tending to corn fields by hand to avoid a machine taking our job.
  - thinkingtoilet 1y ago
    That was a terrific non-answer. The difference is the industrial revolution created jobs, at some point technology will remove jobs. I'm sure you'll be thrilled to be out of a job in the name of good software. It's amazing how the tune changes so quickly when it's your job on the line.
    - iambateman 1y ago
      Sure, AI may break the American economic system – which would be negative both for me, you, and the entire world. I would not relish that and I think we should ask our brightest young thinkers to imagine a world in which the productivity gains from AI don't simply accrue to capital holders. Getting back to Cal's point, I think there's a lot of legitimate questions and uncertainties about what knowledge work will look like over the next decade. You say that technology will remove jobs...and I think you're right directionally, but I can't tell you the timeline for that, nor it's effects. While I love being a software engineer, what that actually looks like on a daily basis has materially changed _a lot_ every few years. Sitting for a day debugging why my SCSS won't render is not the core value I bring to this world as a human.
  - gishglish 1y ago
    > Your argument, taken in a broader sense, would have us tending to corn fields by hand to avoid a machine taking our job. To play off another analogy commonly used in this topic: you are the horse, not the rider. Sure some horses will find new work, at the grace of their owners. Some lucky individuals may even get a carefree life of mostly leisure. But for many, it’s off to the glue factory, and not for a job.
- isaacremuant 1y ago
  If you're so scared then you were probably too sheltered thinking you'd have "guaranteed security" in a shitty unfair world. Some of us weren't that lucky and always had to stay creative, even when we lacked resources that privileged 1st world people had. It's a shift. Exciting and also, yes, dangerous one, but the if you focus on being able to produce true value you are bound to be able to make a living out of it. Whether you're employed by someone or create a company yourself. Find something you love and be scared at times, but don't let it stop you and you'll succeed.

thinkingtoilet 1y ago

I wonder if you would say this if, say, in a year you're laid off because AI got good enough to write your code. Would you be happy that there is better software in the world at the expense of your job?

iambateman 1y ago
I’m optimistic - perhaps naively - about my ability to retool within work. 10 years ago, I was building WordPress websites for motivational speakers. Today, I build web apps for the government. Certainly in 10 years we will be in a different place than we are today. Your argument, taken in a broader sense, would have us tending to corn fields by hand to avoid a machine taking our job.
- thinkingtoilet 1y ago
  That was a terrific non-answer. The difference is the industrial revolution created jobs, at some point technology will remove jobs. I'm sure you'll be thrilled to be out of a job in the name of good software. It's amazing how the tune changes so quickly when it's your job on the line.
  - iambateman 1y ago
    Sure, AI may break the American economic system – which would be negative both for me, you, and the entire world. I would not relish that and I think we should ask our brightest young thinkers to imagine a world in which the productivity gains from AI don't simply accrue to capital holders. Getting back to Cal's point, I think there's a lot of legitimate questions and uncertainties about what knowledge work will look like over the next decade. You say that technology will remove jobs...and I think you're right directionally, but I can't tell you the timeline for that, nor it's effects. While I love being a software engineer, what that actually looks like on a daily basis has materially changed _a lot_ every few years. Sitting for a day debugging why my SCSS won't render is not the core value I bring to this world as a human.
- gishglish 1y ago
  > Your argument, taken in a broader sense, would have us tending to corn fields by hand to avoid a machine taking our job. To play off another analogy commonly used in this topic: you are the horse, not the rider. Sure some horses will find new work, at the grace of their owners. Some lucky individuals may even get a carefree life of mostly leisure. But for many, it’s off to the glue factory, and not for a job.
isaacremuant 1y ago
If you're so scared then you were probably too sheltered thinking you'd have "guaranteed security" in a shitty unfair world. Some of us weren't that lucky and always had to stay creative, even when we lacked resources that privileged 1st world people had. It's a shift. Exciting and also, yes, dangerous one, but the if you focus on being able to produce true value you are bound to be able to make a living out of it. Whether you're employed by someone or create a company yourself. Find something you love and be scared at times, but don't let it stop you and you'll succeed.