[PheonixPharts]

I've worked with a fair number of less experienced, ChatGPT focused engineers and they aren't all that different from the Java engineers of yore that were completely helpless outside of an IDE and could only work extending existing code. These latter engineers where the exemplar "blub" programmers from PG's famous essay [0].

But clearly using an IDE does not make one a bad programmer any more than using ChatGPT will in the future. The bigger issue is the field is awash in people not really interested in programming. There's nothing wrong with this as everyone has to make a living, but this has a far bigger impact on the quality of engineers out there than the nature of the tools used.

Not long ago I was at a hip Bay Area startup and I don't think any of my coworkers, senior or otherwise, spent a second of their free time thinking about programming. For me I program for a living because it's great to get paid to do my hobby during the day. Getting started in the field during the shadow of the dotcom bust, the majority of the senior engineers that inspired me were likewise obsessed with programming and would be programmers even if it paid minimum wage. I don't think I would have necessarily become a programmer today since I wouldn't have been near enough the flame to ignite my own spark.

0. https://paulgraham.com/avg.html

[zigman1]

I think solving one own's problems with code will become more accessible to the wider population, also coding will become a bit more demystified. If you ask me, it will become sort of literacy, like reading alpha-numeric code.

But programming will remain domain of CS, which requires a deeper understanding and proper studying to perform it well. So, while I agree with you, I don't think all of this is that bad. It must be a positive think that more and more people at least try to pick up coding, can solve some basic problems with it, and if anything, will maybe motivate their kids to learn it properly.