I watched this video just the other day about AI and how This is going to be messy. It was by Hank Greene and Cal Newport about how AI and LLMs are going to make the next several years messy. It was a great video, I highly recommend it if you've got time. I've written my thoughts on AI and LLMs which largely agrees with the video, so read about it there once it's posted. Reinforcement bias might also be why I thought it was a great video 🤔...

There was one thing that was said that really grinds my gears and that I want to address. Cal Newport said that the LLM revolution has put developers at risk of being replaced. It's not that I think developers are irreplaceable, but the reason given for that sentiment bothered me.

A bunch of people told me all they do is write bad code.
— Cal Newport, paraphrased (1:26:30 - 1:27:20, This is going to be messy)

F......... Big F.........

To change Cal's mind, since he didn't always think this, he says he's been assailed by many developers with this opinion. Could it really be that most developers have no pride in their work? Could all workplaces really just be sweatshops forcing developers to vomit out garbage code? Frankly, I find this quite unprofessional.

As computer scientists, it's a given that we don't always write good code. POCs, temporary fixes, high-pressure with tight deadlines, acknowledged technical debt, and accidental technical debt (I'm looking at you, younger self) are part of the gig. The whole point, though, is to know when to put in the effort to make good software and to strive to be better than yesterday. Applicable in your career as well as life generally.

Always leave the code cleaner than you found it.
— The Boy Scouts adapted by Robert C. Martin

So, make the half-joke of "I'm also just writing bad code" and then examine the half-truth that's behind the joke. Are you tired or burnt out by your work? Does your workplace not respect your professional integrity? Have you not learned when to put in the effort in order to make something you're proud of? Are you just starting out and need to learn how to make great software? These can all be worked on!

If you truly don't care, you just push out bad code, and you have no passion for computer science, you will be replaced. In fact, why shouldn't an LLM replace you?