It’s a hot take these days to say programming still matters, let alone suggest writing out your own code, but in Yes, and… (external link) , Carson Gross – a programmer and CS teacher – gives a nuanced reason why. In a world where more and more code is being generated by AI, being able to read and reason about its complexity is critical. One way to build that muscle is by staying close to the syntax and typing out one’s code.
The article is in response to a question he keeps getting: is it still relevant to be a programmer in the age of AI? His “yes, and…” take is thought out, especially with this definition in mind:
Computer programming is, fundamentally, about two things:
- Problem-solving using computers
- Learning to control complexity while solving these problems
Carson does use LLMs, but in very specific contexts. He also suggests using LLMs as an always-available tutor – one that augments learning without doing the thinking for you. To aid in this effort, he has created a custom AGENTS.md (external link) that enables his students to learn while still engaging with LLM tools.
At a time when vibe coding is the default advice, I found the post refreshing. Especially for junior programmers navigating this moment, Carson’s perspective is worth sitting with.