I expect software development, as a role, will normalize.
In general, it won't be paid as ridiculously as it was, because the value of what we create (as the industry) doesn't justify that. Granted, there definitely will be high-paying jobs where the supply of decently-skilled specialists will be short enough to justify even the most extravagant offers (the alleged recent Zuckerberg-Altman drama is a good example).
But those boilerplate code writing jobs that used to pay $100k+ a year are gone. And good riddance, let me add.
Necessarily, we will turn into a more holistic perception of the job. I like the frame of a product developer as it redirects the limelight from the code (means) to the product (arguably, a kind of ends).
Also, I'm looking forward to leveling or inverting the prestige disproportion between developers and testers. I expect the prominence of manual testers to rise, as it will be a quick hack to verify whether the stuff we generated works well enough and delivers enough value. And that's what matters for customers.
I fully agree, and also like the Product Engineer framing.
I think in addition to QA, I would also expect to see some leveling with CS and support engineers, who were often treated as 'second class' by engineers.
Really appreciate your kind intro of my work, that means a lot!
And I really resonate with what you shared. I’m seeing it too: there’s no more room for “coasting” in software engineering. AI and the market have leveled the playing field in terms of skills and knowledge. What is left is a fair game for everyone.
The demand for developers was there, so people rushed to fill it with supply.
Now, it's normalising, with high interest rates and automation, but I agree that good software engineering is not going anywhere.
P.S. I didn't like these complaining types of people at work either :)
Great article, Anton!
Thanks Michal! :)
I think though that now is more like the new 'normal'... Sounds much more sane to me.
I expect software development, as a role, will normalize.
In general, it won't be paid as ridiculously as it was, because the value of what we create (as the industry) doesn't justify that. Granted, there definitely will be high-paying jobs where the supply of decently-skilled specialists will be short enough to justify even the most extravagant offers (the alleged recent Zuckerberg-Altman drama is a good example).
But those boilerplate code writing jobs that used to pay $100k+ a year are gone. And good riddance, let me add.
Necessarily, we will turn into a more holistic perception of the job. I like the frame of a product developer as it redirects the limelight from the code (means) to the product (arguably, a kind of ends).
Also, I'm looking forward to leveling or inverting the prestige disproportion between developers and testers. I expect the prominence of manual testers to rise, as it will be a quick hack to verify whether the stuff we generated works well enough and delivers enough value. And that's what matters for customers.
I fully agree, and also like the Product Engineer framing.
I think in addition to QA, I would also expect to see some leveling with CS and support engineers, who were often treated as 'second class' by engineers.
Really appreciate your kind intro of my work, that means a lot!
And I really resonate with what you shared. I’m seeing it too: there’s no more room for “coasting” in software engineering. AI and the market have leveled the playing field in terms of skills and knowledge. What is left is a fair game for everyone.
You are welcome Jenny! By the amount of clicks seems that many people found it interesting :)