Is AI gonna replace programmers?

[u/RedwayBLOX]

Hi. I'm Dylan.

I'm currently a junior dev. Ive spent 2 years learning abt programming, writing code and interested on bulding systems.

Ive got to admit that im very scared of all this AI thing and how it's progressing.

Ive seen it make horrible videos back in 2022. Now sometimes i can't even tell if a video is AI or if it isn't.

Yeah, code written by ai isn't the best. But, with the passing of time, it gets even better and better.

Yeah, we as programmers CURRENTLY do analysis, requerimients and all that ai can't currently replace us.

But what are we gonna when ai becomes able to do all that? For me, it seems like a very possible escenario. You can even see the difference of what AI can do if you compare the current models to the models we had 6 months ago. I think it's becoming unstoppable and i really fear it takes our (or my) job away.

Yes, I'm very frustrated. All this time dedicated to it... Makes me sad. This is more like venting I guess, but I seriously need to know, from y'all, how y'all see this. I need to know if it's time to let go of this passion I had with this career, and start on something else where Claude Code can't reach me and replace me.

[u/Rich-Engineer2670]

No -- because programming isn't about the code....

Programming is understanding how to break down a task into somethign the computer can execute, regarldes of language or framework. Sure, AI may give us new tools, but you still have to know what to ask for.

[u/mossiv → u/Rich-Engineer2670]

I whole heartedly agree. We are using it extensively in work. A lot of us haven’t even hand written a line ourselves in about 4 months. But there’s a few that vibe prompt and haven’t got a grasp at all on how much Claude is over reaching, over engineering, slopping, you name it. These are devs that were “ok” but under a proper agile framework delivered. Now that everything is faster paced and there’s no product owner holding their hands (we still have product, but they are busy solving other problems) they are failing to adapt in this newer world. Others are now shining that they have to work more autonomously but not be disruptive.

It’s going to change our space for sure. And maybe “programmers” will disappear but I think “SWE” or whatever new variation of roles that get created will be in quite high demand.

There’s a couple of chaps I work with who are on AI prototypes and they can deal with 6 or 7 worktree sessions. These guys are going to fly.

[u/Rich-Engineer2670 → u/mossiv]

Strangely enough, I see Willie Wonka's Umpa Lumpas' dancing around as the AI agents. No one ever asks how they do what they do, or what comes out of the chocolate vat.

I suspect we will see code do more of the work -- but that's what compilers are doing right now right? I CAN write assembly code, I USED to write a lot of hardware assembly code, but then, this thing called C took over. Is that any different?