The Craft of Coding

Coding has long been considered a craft - a skill that requires creativity, problem-solving, and attention to detail. But as artificial intelligence and generative AI tools become more prevalent in software development, how is the craft of coding evolving?

According to Matt Van Itallie, CEO and founder of SEMA Software, coding remains very much a human-powered endeavor, even as AI tools augment developers' capabilities. As he explains, "Code is a craft, not a competition." Unlike many other professional fields, there aren't winners and losers in coding - theoretically, everyone can excel at it. This collaborative nature is exemplified by practices like code reviews, where developers provide detailed feedback on each other's work.

While AI coding assistants are becoming ubiquitous, Matt emphasizes that humans must stay "in the loop" when it comes to software development, especially for high-stakes applications. He likens the current state of AI in coding to the evolution of other developer productivity tools over time - it's part of a continuum of abstraction that allows developers to focus more on high-level problem solving.

That said, AI is having a major impact on developer workflows. According to Matt, adoption of AI coding tools has skyrocketed to nearly 100% among developers in a short time. Usage is also deepening, with some experts now recommending developers leverage AI for at least 20% of their coding tasks.

However, AI-generated code still requires human oversight. As Matt notes, code produced entirely by AI without human review is likely to have issues with correctness, security, and intellectual property. The human touch remains essential.

Ultimately, coding in the AI era is still very much a craft - but one where human creativity and judgment are augmented by powerful AI assistants. By embracing these tools thoughtfully while maintaining high standards for quality and security, developers can push the boundaries of what's possible through code.

Vurvey.com