ai-creativity developer-tools coding-culture ai-development

Making

beej.us

July 22, 2026

14 min read

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66/100

Summary

Creating original projects provides significant personal fulfillment, while relying on others for development diminishes that satisfaction. Concerns about the "AI dev schism" include the decline of hands-on coding, low-level problem-solving skills, and enjoyment in the development process.

Key Takeaways

The author expresses fulfillment from creating things personally, rather than relying on others to build for them.
The article discusses the "AI dev schism," highlighting the loss of hands-on coding and low-level problem-solving alongside the gain of high-level problem-solving and fun.
The author has 20 years of industry experience in computer science and currently teaches at Oregon State University-Cascades.
The author identifies as 65% Doom on the AI-Utopia/Doom scale, indicating a cautious perspective on the impact of AI.

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Coverage & discussions

Hacker News · beej.us

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Analysis ready

Community Sentiment

Mixed

Positives

LLMs are turbocharging productivity for many, allowing users to finally tackle long-standing projects in their limited free time — it's a game changer for those who felt stuck.
The ability to flesh out ideas quickly with LLMs is making a real difference in how people engage with their creative pursuits, transforming frustration into progress.

Concerns

Some users feel utterly disenchanted with side projects since LLMs emerged, suggesting a loss of personal investment and creativity in what once inspired them.
The notion that AI is redefining work and craftsmanship is unsettling for many, as it seems to lower standards and dilute the value of genuine effort.