Senior Developer Skills in the AI Age

Summary

Introduction Over the past few months, I have been experimenting with AI-powered coding tools in both my personal and professional projects. The experience has been overwhelmingly positive, both for me and my team of software engineers at work. We’ve achieved better results in less time, and in many cases, the quality of our output has significantly improved. Interestingly, this experience contrasts with the feedback I’ve received from some fellow software developers who report that AI tools aren’t working well for them. I’m now convinced that AI-assisted software development has the potential to elevate our craft to the next level in terms of productivity. This is why I believe our community should embrace it sooner rather than later — but like all tools and practices, with the right perspective and a measured approach. My motivation for sharing these experiences and the best practices I’ve identified is to help move the needle forward in terms of AI adoption within the broader software development community — even if realistically, it’s only by some micrometers. The Current State of AI Coding Beyond “Vibe Coding” My Twitter feed suggests that AI-powered coding tools are already generating significant buzz in a specific niche: non-professional developers who are having great fun building software products. For them, these tools primarily serve as enablers, allowing them to tackle projects they might never have considered without such assistance. More power to them — it’s exciting to witness their journey of struggles and breakthroughs. However, this represents just one segment of potential users, and certainly not the only group for whom these tools can provide immense value. The Senior Developer Advantage My current conclusion, though preliminary in this rapidly evolving field, is that not only can seasoned developers benefit from this technology — they are actually in the optimal position to harness its power. Here’s the fascinating part: The very experience and ...