Why should I invest time in learning to code now?

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I’ve recently finished the Python certification. Though I’ve used it on and off for work, mostly for post-processing data, never got deeper into development until now. Being doing a couple projects the hard way so that I can actually learn.

But now everything is LLMs and I’m hearing at work continuously that’s the way to go, and seeing more and more people saying development is no longer writing syntax. People who were against AI conceding it’s doing well in coding, and even freecodecamp in the newsletter this week was sharing how to build an app with AI and emphasizing no knowledge of the tool is necessary.

So honest question for people who are clearly interested in programming and teaching it: what’s the point in going through these certifications at this stage? Why not just use LLMs to code whatever I might need?

Not trying to be a doomer, but sincerely looking to hearing your thoughts. Right now it feels that learning this won’t amount to more than a hobby, and that my time might be better spent elsewhere. Thanks.

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HI @afmoura ! :waving_hand:

At the end of the day, it really depends on your end goals.

You could use LLMs to wip up a small tool or prototype and bypass learning to code all together.

But the less you know about software and programming in general, the more you won’t be able to use the tool effectively.

I use AI a lot to spend up workflows and increase my output throughout the week. But I also understand fundamentals of software and can tell when it needs to be guided or when it gives me AI slop.

I am able to look at the results and take out what doesn’t work and guide it to a better path. I am also able to debug when things don’t work and get unstuck because I spent years without AI tools.

What is valuable today in software is having good problem solving skills, critical thinking skills and fundamental understanding of software and programming.

I have personally seen a major difference in those with strong programming backgrounds being able to do more with AI tools than those with limited backgrounds.

So IMO, it really does pay in the long term to have a solid foundation. That way you can leverage these tools the right way instead of being chained to them and not get the results you want.

Hope that helps :+1:

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