LLMs as coding sidekicks

The "AI will replace developers" narrative is exhausting. It misses the real transformation happening: AI is becoming a fundamental tool in how we write code, the same way version control and testing did.

The Shift

Five years ago, the question was "can AI code?" Now it's "how do I integrate AI into my workflow to be 10x more effective?"

The answer isn't that AI is better than you. It's that you + AI is better than you alone.

What's Actually Changing

1. Speed: I can prototype features 3x faster. Not because AI writes perfect code, but because iteration is cheaper.
2. Tedium reduction: Boilerplate, config, scaffolding — all faster. I spend time on thinking, not typing.
3. Exploration: Stuck on a problem? Bounce ideas off AI. It's not always right, but it's usually a useful sparring partner.

What Hasn't Changed

• Your judgment: Still all you.
• Architecture decisions: Still all you.
• Product vision: Still all you.
• Understanding tradeoffs: Still all you.

The Real Skill Now

The skill isn't "write code fast." It's "know what you want to build and communicate it clearly enough that AI can help you build it."

That's actually harder than just coding. It requires clarity of thought.

Why I'm Optimistic

If AI can handle the mechanical bits, developers get to focus on the interesting parts: solving hard problems, making good design decisions, understanding user needs.

That's the version of development I want to do anyway.

So use it. Just use it as a tool, not a replacement for thinking.