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Code Is Cheap Now, and That Changes Everything

perevillega.com

April 9, 2026

9 min read

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46/100

Summary

Kent Beck stated that 90% of his skills became worthless due to advancements in technology, while 10% of his skills became significantly more valuable. He emphasized the importance of having a vision, setting milestones, and maintaining design control as essential skills for developers in the evolving landscape.

Key Takeaways

Kent Beck stated that 90% of traditional coding skills have lost value, while skills related to vision and project management have become significantly more valuable.
Paul Ford demonstrated that coding projects which previously cost hundreds of thousands of dollars can now be completed for as little as $150 using AI tools like Claude Code.
The cost of code production has drastically decreased, leading to a shift in industry practices such as planning and prioritization, which were previously shaped by the high cost of coding.
Cheaper code production is expected to unlock latent demand for software solutions, enabling the resolution of previously unsolvable problems.

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Community Sentiment

Mixed

Positives

AI-assisted development opens up opportunities for generalists, enabling them to leverage AI tools for coding tasks that were previously challenging.

Concerns

The reliance on heavily subsidized AI tools raises concerns about sustainability, as costs may eventually rise to levels comparable to hiring junior developers.
Ignoring the environmental and economic implications of cheap code could lead to unforeseen consequences, such as increased RAM and storage costs.