My Honest Thoughts on the Future of Software Engineering - How do we evolve in the AI world❓

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the future of software engineering, emphasizing its dual nature as both art and craft. With AI making software development more accessible, the importance of quality in software solutions will increase. The speaker encourages aspiring software engineers to build real projects that solve real problems, engage with communities, and gain real users to learn and improve. The ultimate goal is to create software that not only solves problems but also generates revenue, potentially leading to a successful startup.

Takeaways

• 💡 Software engineering is both an art and a craft, requiring technical expertise, precision, and creativity.
• 🔮 The future of software engineering will see a blend of art and craft, with AI making software development more accessible.
• 📈 The quality of software engineering will become even more critical as AI enables the creation of more software with higher expectations.
• 🏆 To stand out, software engineers must focus on building high-quality, thoughtfully designed solutions that solve real problems.
• 🛠️ Instead of cloning popular apps, build real projects that address genuine issues to demonstrate depth in thinking and design.
• 🤔 Engage with a community to discuss and build upon real-world problems and solutions.
• 🌐 Build in public to connect with like-minded individuals, gain feedback, and attract users.
• 👥 Listen to feedback from real users to identify bugs, optimize, and improve the user experience.
• 💼 Real users are more likely to pay for software that solves their problems effectively.
• 🚀 Aim to build startups that solve specific pain points, potentially leading to a sustainable business with recurring revenue.

Q & A

What does the speaker believe software engineering to be?

The speaker believes software engineering is both an art and a craft, requiring technical expertise, precision, creativity, and innovation.

How does the speaker think AI will impact the future of software engineering?

The speaker thinks AI will make software development more accessible, leading to a higher demand for quality in software solutions.

What is the importance of quality in software engineering according to the speaker?

Quality is crucial because it will differentiate software in a market with many alternatives, and thoughtfully designed, well-implemented solutions will be the winners.

What advice does the speaker give to software engineers in a competitive market?

The speaker advises software engineers to build real projects that solve real problems, to stand out by having a high bar of quality in their work.

Why should software engineers avoid building clones of popular tools?

Building clones does not require deep thinking about use cases and design, which is essential for understanding and improving the software engineering process.

What is the speaker's recommendation for starting a software project?

The speaker recommends starting with a personal or known problem, designing a solution that considers all use cases, and then building software to solve that problem effectively.

Why is building in public beneficial according to the speaker?

Building in public allows for community engagement, feedback, and connections with similar people, which can lead to real users and learning opportunities.

How can having real users improve a software engineer's work?

Having real users provides different perspectives, reveals bugs, and offers insights into user experience, which can drive optimization and improvement.

What is the ultimate goal of building software according to the speaker?

The ultimate goal is to solve problems and make the world better, with the potential for users to pay for solutions that address their real pain points.

Why does the speaker encourage building multiple startups?

Building multiple startups can lead to real users, paying customers, and a sustainable business model, which is more valuable than a salary.

What is the speaker's suggestion for dealing with new problems encountered during software development?

The speaker suggests that new problems encountered during development can lead to the creation of new tools or services, which can be a path to innovation and business opportunities.