A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering

#1

Post by ssutch3 » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 12:40 AM UTC

A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering
sam.sutch.net

Re: A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering

#2

Post by stackghost » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 1:47 AM UTC

>I’d love to find a corner of the world where this hasn’t happened yet [...]

Start one?

There's definitely a market for software that doesn't give off the corporate, mass-produced, one-size-fits-all energy. 37signals famously made quite a business out of it.

Re: A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering

#3

Post by block_dagger » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 1:54 AM UTC

After we get through this slop phase, I think software engineering won’t be about code at all, if it even exists as a profession. Feels like the beginning of the end for the craft.

Re: A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering

#4

Post by ElProlactin » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 1:54 AM UTC

It's strange to see this on the site:

> While I may use AI for work, my website, and all the content on it, is entirely written by hand.

I mean, if you're tired of the slop and what AI is doing to the industry, why do you need to use it for a simple personal website?

Re: A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering

#5

Post by avaer » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 1:55 AM UTC

ElProlactin wrote: post #4

It's strange to see this on the site: > While I may use AI for work, my website, and all the content on it, is entirely written by hand. I mean, if you're tired of the slop and what AI is doing to the industry, why do you need to use it for a simple personal website?

I think they are saying they didn't use AI for it.

Re: A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering

#6

Post by MattDamonSpace » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 1:55 AM UTC

ElProlactin wrote: post #4

It's strange to see this on the site: > While I may use AI for work, my website, and all the content on it, is entirely written by hand. I mean, if you're tired of the slop and what AI is doing to the industry, why do you need to use it for a simple personal website?

Hes saying his site is written by hand

Re: A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering

#7

Post by ssutch3 » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 1:59 AM UTC

ElProlactin wrote: post #4

It's strange to see this on the site: > While I may use AI for work, my website, and all the content on it, is entirely written by hand. I mean, if you're tired of the slop and what AI is doing to the industry, why do you need to use it for a simple personal website?

I'm saying my site and everything on it is written manually.

Re: A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering

#8

Post by avaer » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 2:01 AM UTC

block_dagger wrote: post #3

After we get through this slop phase, I think software engineering won’t be about code at all, if it even exists as a profession. Feels like the beginning of the end for the craft.

The meaning of code will change. Maybe it will get a new name.

Software hasn't been about "real code" (asm) for a long time; yes, this was a common opinion when HLL's and compilers were starting.

Re: A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering

#9

Post by shric » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 2:02 AM UTC

30 years in the industry for me. It’s been a wild last few years watching this transformation. Like the OP I find it wholly unpleasant and I also can’t deny the productivity boost. I’m very glad I’m nearly ready for retirement and I look forward to watching this “progress” from a comfortable distance.

Re: A grumpy screed about AI in software engineering

#10

Post by throwaway74628 » Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 2:03 AM UTC

I anticipate and welcome the market price of slopware dropping to zero, given that it’s now in infinite supply. Too much talent has been cohabiting with SO copypasters, MBA idiots, and management dorks for too long, time to break up.