Look no further to be honest; look at older generation programming languages like COBOL and how sought-after good developers for that language are.
But I'm also afraid / certain that LLMs are able to figure out legacy code (as long as enough fits in their context window), so it's tenuous at best.
Also, funny you mentioned HTML / CSS because for a while (...in the 90's / 2000's) it looked like nobody needed to actually learn those because of tools like Dreamweaver / Frontpage.
The issue with COBOL code is that it’s hidden. It’s mostly internal systems so little code available for training. HTML, TypeScript, JavaScript, C, etc, are readily available, billions of code lines.
Well, on the 2nd paragraph, I have no illusion they’ll figure out more as they are being trained. I am more thinking of the custodians (as coders turn into that)
Say you are a good coder now, but you are becoming a custodian, checking the llm work will slowly erode your skills. Maybe if you got a good memory or an amazing skillset it might be some time, but if you don’t use it, you lose it.
How are COBOL developers "sought after"? That's an oft-repeated but woefully incorrect meme.
FAANG new grads make more. If the COBOL devs had upskilled throughout their career they'd be Senior Staff/Principal+ and making 5-10x more than they do today.
But I'm also afraid / certain that LLMs are able to figure out legacy code (as long as enough fits in their context window), so it's tenuous at best.
Also, funny you mentioned HTML / CSS because for a while (...in the 90's / 2000's) it looked like nobody needed to actually learn those because of tools like Dreamweaver / Frontpage.