Reflections on surviving and thriving in a changing industry
This will probably be my last article for 2024, and I hope you’ve had a great year.
For me, it’s been a rollercoaster — lots of downs and setbacks, but thankfully, I’m ending on a high note. 🎉 I’m proud of what I accomplished, and I want to share some thoughts on how to become a better developer in 2025. AI will definitely be part of the conversation.
The Big Question: Is Software Engineering Still Worth It in 2025?
Every week, it feels like more layoffs hit the tech world. Companies say they want “better skills,” and sometimes it feels like developers aren’t wanted anymore. (That’s a cap, by the way 🧢)
So, should you even bother learning software engineering today? How do you survive — and thrive — without being replaced?
The Impact of AI on Software Engineering
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: AI.
Today, employers can get an AI tool for a few hundred dollars a month and automate a lot of coding tasks. These tools don’t complain, don’t take breaks, and deliver exactly what you ask for — fast. They’re basically the perfect “slave” for product managers who want quick results.
That might sound scary.
But let’s be honest — software engineering is more than just typing code.
Writing code is roughly 30-40% of the job. The rest is communication, planning, design, and making sure the work actually benefits the company.
The hardest part isn’t writing code — it’s knowing what to write, why to write it, and whether it should be written at all. 💻
Can AI ask those big-picture questions? Can AI explain to your manager why a feature matters or doesn’t? Can it come up with fresh ideas?
No — not really.
Becoming a Better Software Engineer in 2025
If you want to stay relevant, stop thinking like a coder and start thinking like a software engineer.
Learn to:
- Review code critically
- Understand and contribute to architecture
- Make design decisions that align with business goals 🏗️
And yes — learn how to monetize your skills. Software engineering isn’t just about writing lines of code; it’s about creating tools that solve real problems.
Sure, AI will keep getting better. Maybe someday it will do more than just assist. But right now, a skilled software engineer is still indispensable.
So don’t fear AI — embrace it.
Try out the tools, learn how they work, and find ways to use AI to boost your productivity. 🚀
History Shows Us How to Adapt
Remember when newspapers started going digital? Many delivery jobs vanished, but those people didn’t just disappear.
They reskilled, moved into digital media, logistics, or other tech-driven fields.
They adapted. They reinvented themselves.
And you can too.
What’s Next?
The future after software engineering will be exciting and complex — maybe more interesting than today.
Don’t be negative. Be ready.
Final Thoughts: Build, Build, Build
The market is savage. If you’re just a generalist who can’t handle complex systems, you won’t make it.
You need experience with:
- Building scalable, complex apps
- Managing infrastructure
- Handling performance at scale
No more to-do lists or weather apps — that’s old news.
Try building something ambitious — a social media app with AI features, a compiler, or recreate a complex architecture on AWS.
Practice theory and practice.
Build for yourself, build to learn, build to become better.
