[encyclopedism]

For many people coding isn't just a means to an end but a pleasure in itself. Coding by hand, the raw intellectual challenge to my mind has been one of the greatest 'jobs' you could have. Earning money for what is essentially 'solving puzzles' is amazing!

With vibe coding that's out the window and a race to the bottom to remove as MUCH intellectual human input is at hand. To reiterate Human intellectual input is what AI is attempting to do away with or reduce as much as possible.

[ethagnawl]

That's pretty much how I feel. I've been extremely lucky in that, for the last ~15 years, work often hasn't felt like work as a result. I also think I was (am?) _average at best_ but continually saw improvement, found new tricks, etc. and was kept engaged.

If I wind up stocking shelves at Tractor Supply, like I keep threatening to (because I have no interest in feeding bots with markdown), I'm sure I'll be in for a rude awakening.

[encyclopedism]

Anecdotally at least I've seen devs who have checked out by completely flipping careers or doing something zany such as living off grid. Unfortunately like most things your options are limited to your economic circumstances.