[StefanWestfal]

How do you define elite programmers?

If you define elite programmers in the context of actual coding as those who excel at implementing ideas and solutions, I could imagine that this skill might become less relevant with the advent of AI. Smashing out over 1000 lines of Haskell would then be the equivalent of being able to calculate complex numbers in your head.

However, if you define elite programmers as those who possess good domain knowledge, communication-, management-, and soft skills, then yes, they might become so productive that they could replace developers whose main skill is writing code as we move up a level of abstraction. While it might help today to have a certain level of understanding about Assembly and C, we do not need to be elite at it to be a good software engineer.

I am asking as I met a few devs who are electrical engs. with a very good understanding of how a computer actually works but now earn more with React and Python.

[jeltz]

The overlap between both groups are quite large from my personal experience. The mythical code wizard with no domain knowledge or soft skills exist but they are very rare. Most people who are really good at coding are also good at picking up domain knowledge.

[anonzzzies]

I don't think you can do anything meaningful without domain knowledge. It can only be very limited without I think.

[mewpmewp2]

Yeah, I would say that elite programmers are the ones who are able to do most value with the tools they have, so likely they would be the ones who would get most out of AI as well, since they know how to make it do what they want and understand if it's any good or not.