Is Coding still worth it in 2024? (as an ex-Google programmer)

The video discusses the diminishing value of coding as a profession in 2024, as presented by an ex-Google programmer. The speaker argues that with the rise of AI, no-code solutions, and an oversaturated job market, software engineering may become a dead-end job. They highlight the shift in consumer behavior away from downloading apps and towards social media platforms, where 'code influencers' sell an unrealistic dream of coding leading to wealth and success. The speaker criticizes the current state of software engineering, comparing it to a 'Ponzi scheme' and suggesting that it offers low status and poor work-life balance. They advocate for entrepreneurship and leveraging new technologies like AI and blockchain as more promising paths to success and status. The video also features a sponsored segment on Skillshare, an online learning platform for creative skills, and concludes with a review of the Keyron Q1 Max mechanical keyboard.

Takeaways

• 🚫 The speaker, an ex-Google programmer, believes that coding is no longer as valuable as it once was due to the rise of AI, no-code solutions, and an oversaturated job market.
• 🌐 There is a general loss of consumer interest in downloading new apps or bookmarking websites, which could lead to software engineering becoming a less desirable career path.
• 🧳 The speaker has not coded in the past year, choosing instead to travel and engage in experiences that did not revolve around coding.
• 💼 The speaker suggests that the traditional 9-to-5 job in software engineering may not be as lucrative or fulfilling as once believed, comparing it to a dead-end job.
• 📈 The rise of social media influencers and the shift in internet usage towards a few dominant platforms indicate a change in how content is consumed and careers are made.
• 💰 The speaker argues that the dream of becoming wealthy through coding is outdated and that the reality is much less glamorous.
• 🔢 There is a distinction made between 'slave' programming skills, which are useful only within a corporate setting, and entrepreneurial skills that can be leveraged for wealth outside of traditional employment.
• 📚 The speaker criticizes traditional university degrees for teaching outdated knowledge and not keeping up with current technological advancements like AI and blockchain.
• 🌟 High-status jobs are those that one would want to do even if they were already rich, and software engineering is not typically viewed in this light.
• 🌍 The speaker has observed a shift towards a digital nomad lifestyle and remote work, which offers more flexibility and appeal than traditional office jobs.
• 🔑 The speaker concludes that for those aiming to be in the top tier of earners, entrepreneurship might be a better path than coding, despite the allure of coding as a high-income skill in the past.

Q & A

What is the speaker's opinion on the current state of coding as a career in 2024?

The speaker believes that coding is no longer worth it as a career due to the rise of AI, no-code solutions, and an oversaturated job market. They suggest that software engineering may become a dead-end job.

Why does the speaker think that coding might be becoming a dead-end job?

The speaker cites the general loss of consumer interest in downloading new apps or bookmarking websites, the saturation of the job market with coders, and the advent of AI and no-code solutions as reasons why coding might become a dead-end job.

What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to coding?

The speaker suggests considering entrepreneurship and focusing on building personal brands or media companies as alternatives to coding, which they believe have higher status and better earning potential.

What is the 'coding delusion' mentioned by the speaker?

The 'coding delusion' is a term coined by the speaker to describe the misguided belief that coding is a guaranteed path to success, similar to the 'college delusion' where people invest heavily in education without necessarily reaping the expected benefits.

How does the speaker describe the current landscape of internet usage?

The speaker describes it as being consolidated into the top social media applications, with most internet usage now centered around platforms like Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

What is the speaker's view on React as a programming language?

The speaker views React as the 'language of the slaves,' developed by Facebook for junior engineers who lack logical reasoning skills. They argue that React developers are not real software engineers because they do not use algorithms or data structures.

Why does the speaker believe that traditional software engineering skills are becoming less relevant?

The speaker believes that traditional software engineering skills are becoming less relevant due to the rise of AI and machine learning models that can perform tasks previously done by human coders.

What does the speaker suggest about the future of work for software engineers?

The speaker suggests that software engineers may need to transition into roles that involve managing and overseeing AI and machine learning models, rather than writing code themselves.

What is the speaker's opinion on the status of being a software engineer in today's society?

The speaker believes that being a software engineer is not as high status as it used to be and that it involves sacrificing social status, time, health, and personal life for a salary.

What does the speaker recommend for those who are technically minded but not interested in traditional coding careers?

The speaker recommends exploring entrepreneurship, the creator economy on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, and getting involved with newer technologies such as AI, blockchain, and crypto.

What is the Keyron Q1 Max mentioned by the speaker?

The Keyron Q1 Max is a mechanical keyboard that the speaker highly recommends. It features custom Gadon banana switches, an aluminum gasket body, double-shot PBT keycaps, improved connectivity with Bluetooth, and RGB backlighting.

Outlines

00:00

🚫 The Decline of Coding as a Career Choice

The speaker, a former Google X tech lead, asserts that coding is no longer a promising career due to the rise of AI, no-code solutions, and an oversaturated job market. They argue that the public has lost interest in new apps and websites, and that software engineering may become a dead-end job. The speaker shares their personal experience of not coding for a year and traveling instead, emphasizing that coding discussions are not universally interesting. They introduce the term 'coding delusion' to describe the misguided belief that coding is a path to success, comparing it to the 'college delusion.' The paragraph also criticizes code influencers who promote the idea of coding as a get-rich-quick scheme and argues that learning to code in React, developed by Facebook for less experienced engineers, does not make one a true software engineer.

05:01

🌐 The Shift in Tech and the Rise of Social Media Influencers

The speaker discusses the shift in the tech landscape, noting that most internet usage is now concentrated in a few social media applications. They highlight the emergence of 'code influencers' who promote coding without having substantial coding experience themselves. These influencers sell an unrealistic dream of wealth and success through coding. The speaker also criticizes traditional software engineers for being out of touch with the social media revolution and no-code solutions, which have created a new generation of millionaires. They argue that the role of a software engineer, originally designed for a stable but sedentary lifestyle, is no longer desirable in a society that values high status, social credibility, and faster ways to make money. The speaker suggests that entrepreneurship might be a better path for those aiming to be in the top 10% of earners and emphasizes the importance of status in society.

10:04

🛠️ The Evolution of Coding and the Role of Entrepreneurship

The speaker compares advanced coding to cooking, where one eventually becomes a manager rather than a line cook. They argue that the 'coding delusion' is based on outdated university degrees that teach irrelevant information. They point out that modern opportunities such as Bitcoin, DeFi, Web3, and the creator economy on platforms like TikTok and YouTube have created new ways to succeed without traditional coding skills. The speaker also mentions AI and chatbot technologies as part of a new generation of tech that relies more on data than on extensive coding. They suggest that the real opportunities may lie in understanding and tweaking these technologies rather than in coding itself. The paragraph concludes with a review of the Keyron Q1 Max mechanical keyboard, praising its feel, sound, keycap design, connectivity, and RGB backlight as ideal for typing, office work, or gaming.

Keywords

💡Coding

Coding refers to the process of writing computer programs in a programming language. In the video, the speaker suggests that coding may not be as lucrative or desirable a career as it once was, due to the rise of AI and no-code solutions.

💡AI Chat GBT

AI Chat GBT likely refers to AI-driven chatbots or conversational interfaces, which are becoming more prevalent and capable of performing tasks traditionally done by software engineers. The video discusses how such technologies could reduce the demand for human coders.

💡No-code Solutions

No-code solutions are platforms that allow users to create software applications without writing code. The video suggests that the availability of such tools is contributing to an oversaturated job market for programmers.

💡Software Engineering

Software engineering is a discipline that involves the design, development, and maintenance of software. The video implies that the profession might be becoming a 'dead-end job' due to the changing landscape of technology and job market dynamics.

💡React

React is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces, particularly for single-page applications. The speaker criticizes React, suggesting it was developed for less skilled programmers and that being a React developer does not make one a 'real' software engineer.

💡Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is a region in California known for its high-tech innovation and venture capital. The video argues that Silicon Valley has missed the shift towards social media and no-code solutions, and is stuck in outdated practices.

💡Entrepreneurial Route

The entrepreneurial route refers to starting one's own business or venture. The speaker posits that entrepreneurship might be a more promising path for individuals seeking high status and financial success than traditional coding careers.

💡Social Media Influencer

A social media influencer is an individual who has the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media. The video contrasts the glamorous lifestyle of social media influencers with the perceived monotony of coding.

💡Digital Nomad

A digital nomad is a person who uses digital technology to earn a living and, more importantly, to work remotely. The video mentions meeting digital nomads during the speaker's travels, suggesting a preference for a lifestyle that offers more freedom and travel opportunities than traditional office jobs.

💡Keychron Q1 Max

The Keychron Q1 Max is a mechanical keyboard mentioned in the video. It is highlighted as an example of a high-quality, enjoyable-to-use tool for programmers and typists, suggesting that despite the changing job market, there is still a place for premium tools that enhance the coding experience.

💡Coding Delusion

Coding delusion is a term coined in the video to describe the misguided belief that learning to code is a guaranteed path to success and wealth. The speaker argues that this perception is outdated and does not reflect the current realities of the tech industry.

Highlights

Coding may not be as worthwhile in 2024 due to the rise of AI, no-code solutions, and an oversaturated job market.

The speaker, an ex-Google X Meta Tech lead, suggests software engineering could become a dead-end job.

There's a general loss of consumer interest in downloading new apps or bookmarking websites.

The speaker has not coded in the past year, opting for travel and other interests instead.

Skillshare is promoted as a platform to bring side hustles to life with various classes and learning paths.

The term 'coding delusion' is coined, comparing it to the 'college delusion' where people invest heavily in education that does not pay off.

Coding is viewed as a path to success, but often leads to a mundane 9-to-5 job with limited earning potential.

React is described as the language of 'slaves,' developed for junior engineers by Facebook.

Being a React developer does not qualify one as a real software engineer, as it lacks logical reasoning and problem-solving.

The rise of social media applications has led to a shift in internet usage, with most activity concentrated in a few top platforms.

Code influencers are criticized for selling an unrealistic dream of coding leading to wealth and success.

The landscape of software development is changing, with a focus on machine learning models and AI tools.

The speaker suggests that the role of a software engineer is becoming less desirable and more like 'grunt work'.

Entrepreneurship is proposed as a more viable and higher status path compared to traditional 9-to-5 programming jobs.

The speaker argues that certain programming skills are 'slave skills' only useful within a corporate environment.

Skills like PHP and JavaScript are deemed more valuable for entrepreneurial success.

The outdated nature of university degrees in the face of rapid technological change is discussed.

Emerging opportunities in areas like Bitcoin, DeFi, Web3, and the creator economy are highlighted as more promising than traditional coding roles.

The Keyron Q1 Max mechanical keyboard is praised for its high-quality design, build, and typing experience.