A software developer reflects on the profession's future amid AI advances, categorizing developers into two groups: those who "write code because code lets them build things" and those who code for the love of it. The author, identifying with the first group, sees AI as accelerating prototyping and enabling faster creation of products, websites, and systems.

However, this democratization of building tools means developers may lose their intermediary role between domain experts and technical implementation. While non-developers can now create with AI assistance, they lack the architectural and systemic thinking skills that experienced developers provide. The author predicts Boris Cherny and others in this space will adapt rather than disappear.

Two scenarios emerge: business-as-usual where tooling improves but jobs remain similar, or a world where AI enables everyone to code, potentially reducing demand for traditional developers. The timeline is 5-10 years, not distant future speculation. Either way, adaptation becomes essential.

The core insight: developers who view coding as a means to an end—building products, companies, solutions—will likely pivot toward higher-level design and strategic work, while those who code for its own sake may find new opportunities in pure technical creation.