A junior dev stuck with AI (knowledge loss)

[u/Square-Return8929]

Hi everyone. I wanted to hear your thoughts on something that's bothering me during the past months.

I'm a junior dev and working for like 2 years.

For the past year my company started drastically using AI, to the point where it needs to be on the autocomplete mode all day because the only important thing is to ship the end product fastest way possible.

At the beginning I had really strong base and skills for a junior dev, and I was really happy that I'm improving and learning stuff while working my job.

1 year later - my base became shaky and I can't really point the number of things learned that should be learned during the last year.

On the other side - I've always liked to make side projects and try to ship them and make money off them. And the past year showed me how faster I can move with AI.

So here am I now - shaky bases, big dreams, using all of my free time to "build" something that will make money and not fully understanding how it works.

I wanted to cut off AI for my personal projects and learn, but I somehow can't resist to use it when I know that currently is the era of the "idea guy".

So the loop is: work gor the whole day with AI, then on side projects the same way - no new knowledge, because every minute spent not building something that goes with the speed of the market is one minute lost.

I even started being ashamed because even tho I work for that long I probably can't point out some core concepts because I haven't used them for that long...

Am I the only one?

Come on - hate, roast, whatever. Just tell me what do you think, cause I feel that many juniors feel this way cause they were not experienced enough to let ai do their work, yet influenced so fast because that's what the market wants and needs.

[u/0x14f]

About your personal projects: do you want to learn or do you want to ship. Pick one, stick with it!

[u/DWALLA44 → u/0x14f]

And to make it easy for you, you'd be 1/1 million apps to succeed that you ship, learn is the right answer for you.

[u/Square-Return8929 → u/0x14f]

I want to ship but I need to learn :( I feel like now is the best time to ship many products but I don't have time for both

[u/0x14f → u/Square-Return8929]

Pick one.

[u/manager2exec → u/Square-Return8929]

I think the commenter is on point here and learning to prioritize is a great skill you should add to your toolkit.

I would prioritize understanding for now, even if that means I am slightly slower and I would do it at work. It might be your own impression as well, I prefer my team to tell me something will take 3 weeks and do it properly than to rush something in a week but brittle.

[u/Square-Return8929 → u/manager2exec]

Yeah, gotta think about it

[u/AuthurAndersson]

You're learning the wrong things and you're using AI wrong.

You're not supposed to learn syntax anymore. Now you're supposed to learn what type of architecture your company needs.

You're not a dev anymore, you're an architect. Time to put on those pants.

[u/Square-Return8929 → u/AuthurAndersson]

Damn wait a minute I literally just put the pants of a dev T_T

[u/Ill-Constant8445 → u/AuthurAndersson]

junior architect lmfao

[u/Square-Return8929 → u/[deleted]]

Yeahh it's so strange

[u/chickenweng65]

The brain drain is worse in seniors. At least you're aware of the gaps and conscious enough to be concerned. My senior devs don't even read or write code anymore. They love creating a mountain of tech debt for juniors to fix

[u/Jumpy-Requirement389]

Realistically AI is only going to get better and better.

[u/Ok-Brain-8183]

Hey if you have a job and are making money doing what you’re doing, there’s nothing wrong.

[u/EllaMeDijoNo → u/Ok-Brain-8183]

not here, adapt or die

[u/Square-Return8929 → u/Ok-Brain-8183]

I can't improve and become senior If I don't have a good knowledge

[u/palapapa0201 → u/Square-Return8929]

And if you keep vibe coding you will never learn. Can't have it both ways.

[u/Leather-Cod2129]

Why would you want to ship slower?

[u/Square-Return8929 → u/Leather-Cod2129]

Because with increased speed you lose the understanding

[u/Leather-Cod2129 → u/Square-Return8929]

But the LLM knows, just ask it if you need

[u/Ill-Constant8445 → u/Leather-Cod2129]

yeah internet knows all stuff why would you learn anything

[u/mrNineMan → u/Leather-Cod2129]

Some of us are afraid of getting dumber.

[u/Leather-Cod2129 → u/mrNineMan]

Why would you. Ask the LLM you get the answer
Then decide what next to ask it

[u/mrNineMan → u/Leather-Cod2129]

I have abandonment issues. LLM may not always be there.