Software engineers aren't going away. We are on the move!

Software engineers aren't going away. We are on the move!
Deeper into the stack.
Wider across the stack.
Into more metaprogramming (writing software that writes software).

Today, tokens are cheap.
Maybe they stay that way.
Maybe they get cheaper.

But it's worth remembering: these costs are subsidized.

That's right, someone else is footing the bill.
Eat up, but the gravy train won't last forever.

I'd be mining bitcoin and running Tesla charging stations from my garage too... if my neighbor let me plug into their power outlets.

That doesn't last.
The incentives are too misaligned.

As usage explodes, costs will matter again.
And when they do, efficiency.
Dependability wins.
Judgement wins.

Sure, we can call an LLM for everything.
Just like you could google "facebook" every time you want to login.
But most of the time, there's a faster path.
A simpler path.
A cheaper path.

An optimal path.

When we need to win once, any path works.
When we need a system that wins repeatedly, the path matters.

... and that's engineering.

PS. Don't confuse pedigree with proficiency. As I write this, the rules are being rewritten for what the "right resume" will look like for the next batch of technologists.