Entry-level software engineering postings dropped 67% between 2023 and 2024. The pipeline that turns students into engineers is collapsing.

AI coding tools are replacing entry-level programming jobs faster than anyone predicted. The traditional path from junior to senior developer is collapsing, and the consequences for the entire industry could be devastating. If you mentor juniors or hire them, this one hits different.

  • lichtmetzger@discuss.tchncs.de
    10·
    4 hours ago

    The skill erosion is real, and I could see it on myself just after a week of trying out Claude

    While it took me a few months to really notice it, that still shocked me. Using AI extensively makes you depend on it - and that’s exactly what the big players want. A customer paying a recurring subscription just to do their job.

    Since I am not forced to use it, I deleted my OpenAI account and started to code without LLM assistance again. It’s much more fun to solve problems by myself (and get a dopamine kick out of that) anyway - and when the bubble inevitably pops, I can still go on as I did before.

    • mindbleach@sh.itjust.works
      3·
      32 minutes ago

      A customer paying a recurring subscription just to do their job.

      Local models will win. They’re half-assed, but the big boys only provide fractionally more ass. LLMs will become just another tool you can call on when you’d rather read code than write it.