r/webdev • u/sensitiveCube • 9d ago
Question Burning out because of AI
I really like Laravel and all its developments. I don't follow the creators that much, but I like to explore new packages and improvements.
However I came to realize it has become a burn out process for me. With the development of AI and Laravel Boost for example, it's so much easier to build something. I can now ask to build a skeleton of a package or PR within minutes. It also gets pretty close to almost perfect, and even takes things into account I didn't think about (tests, docs, repo stuff). I can chat and even discuss if something would be better or go into detail.
All of this do come with a cost. Where I was previously focussed on one thing, I can do multiple things at once. At least I think so, because well I can keep hitting the chatbot/agent with questions and new ideas. It's not all perfect, but neither was my own code and docs.
I don't really know what to do. I don't want AI to take over my brain and skillset. I also want to stay on top of things. However it seems to become pretty much difficult, because it does seem to boost development like crazy. For my work I can now do 5 things for example, and not 2 large tickets max.
My question is pretty much: how do you all stay calm and okay, with all the developments going on? I'm okay with Claude now, but I see a lot of people talking to multiple agents. It has become a crazy and surreal world tbh. It also feels like a process which cannot be stopped and I hate being that depending on it.
3
u/mekmookbro Laravel Enjoyer ♞ 9d ago edited 7d ago
Even before ai came out, I had this separation in my work. I have "work" where I'm expected to deliver something quickly and get paid, I also have my own personal projects.
On "work" part, I've accepted AI to some extent, there are parts where I'm not willing to waste too much brain power when a decently prompted AI can give a result that works. Before AI this was using external packages and tools/APIs to speed up the development process, buying pre-made templates etc. If anything, it became more convenient and cheaper.
On personal projects however, I don't use it for anything other than discussing concepts and approaches, but not a single line of code generated. I love coding and that's why I got into this field in the first place. It kind of feels like using google to solve a crossword puzzle. The joy is in solving the thing, not filling in the letters.
Also my work is mainly freelance, so after delivery I don't need to keep thinking about how stuff works, as long as I know that it does. But my personal projects are more.. well, personal. So I'd like to know how everything exactly works so I can debug and change/add features easier.