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Developers Embrace Chaos as AI Transforms Software Building

Exploring the evolving, uncertain process of AI-assisted software development

From Hacker News Original Article Hacker News Discussion

AI-assisted software development is entering a chaotic, experimental phase where traditional expertise feels obsolete, and developers are improvising new workflows and documentation styles. The process feels like "throwing spaghetti at walls," with rapid iteration and uncertain outcomes becoming the norm.

Why it matters: Developers are redefining programming as "structured wishing," relying on AI to rapidly produce code while navigating constant change.

The big picture: This shift challenges long-held ideas about expertise, as AI accelerates coding beyond traditional human limits but creates fragile, hard-to-understand codebases.

The stakes: Without stable methodologies, projects risk becoming unmaintainable or inconsistent, with developers feeling like perpetual beginners in a fast-evolving landscape.

Commenters say: Many embrace the excitement and productivity boosts AI enables, while others caution about quality, bug complexity, and the difficulty of scaling or understanding AI-generated code.