𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜. 𝗙𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝘁.
Most software engineers use AI now.
They use it for debugging, writing tests, or generating SQL queries. Using AI is easy. Engineering with AI is much harder.
I noticed a problem while using AI on real repository tasks. A wrong change does not just result in bad output. It breaks your structure, your tests, and your future maintainability.
The code generation part is easy. A broad prompt produces code quickly. It looks clean at first glance.
The useful results only come when you do the boring work first. You must:
- Define the requirement.
- Limit the scope.
- Explain constraints.
- Decide how to verify the change.
The skill is not prompting. The skill is shaping the work.
AI increases the speed of output. It does not increase the quality of verification. If code becomes faster to generate, unclear requirements become more expensive. Weak reviews become more dangerous.
AI amplifies your existing engineering loop.
If the requirement is unclear, AI still produces something. If the architecture is messy, AI copies the mess. If you cannot review the output, speed becomes a risk.
The question is not if AI replaces engineers. The question is: what parts of engineering become more important when code is cheap?
My answer: thinking clearly before implementation.
AI makes old advice more important:
- Think twice, code once.
- Define the problem before asking AI to build.
- Check tradeoffs before accepting an answer.
- Verify behavior before merging.
Engineering is shifting from writing code to shaping the right change.
Treat AI as a collaborator that needs structure. A good loop looks like this: Requirement → Gaps → Plan → Small change → Review → Checks → Notes.
Real engineering is not about producing code. It is about producing reliable change.
The advantage is not in generating the most code. The advantage is knowing what to build and how it fits your system.
The engineers who win will not be the fastest prompt writers. They will be the ones who design better workflows around the tool.
Source: https://dev.to/jeelvankhede/most-engineers-use-ai-few-engineer-with-it-3pd
Optional learning community: https://t.me/GyaanSetuAi