[steve_adams_86]

I mean, I've expanded what I use my programming skills for dramatically in the last year. I've suddenly got several personal macOS apps I'm building and maintaining for myself, for my small business, or for fun. That never happened before (I've generally been full stack on the web). I've built far more useful and complex firmware and finally begun designing and building custom circuits. I rarely had the time for that before.

I'm able to take on way more interesting and challenging projects in my business because the logistics and legwork required for implementing them are greatly simplified by being able to actually implement the specs for the software I've had in my head for years.

This is a stark contrast to pre-2024 or so. I've always been an explorer, a fairly prolific software developer I guess, but now it's so much more than that. And it's leaking into hardware and other physical ventures. I'm typically limited by funds more than anything.

Are some of my projects lower quality than if they were done by someone more qualified? Yeah, totally. Though I think I still do a solid job. I don't care though; these things have opened my eyes and mind so much and made creating so much more inviting and exciting.

It still burns with the 'career careening into the dirt' vibes I get most days, but what the hell, it was good while it lasted. If I was smart enough to make the computer do the thing, maybe I'll be smart enough to do something else that's useful. And I've got some years left before it's truly end of the line, I think.

[switchbak]

"maybe I'll be smart enough to do something else that's useful" - I'm in precisely the same boat, with the same unease, but also it's kind of the golden time right now. We still get paid, we've been given superpowers that were sci-fi a couple years ago, and we can do great things with them.

With that kind of potential, I find it strange to think that all these talented people will be let go. Maybe if AI really ramps up quickly, but I think it's more likely we'll see a million small business started, exploring into niches that were just too much time investment previously. I myself have a bunch of ideas that also involve hardware and physical manufacturing.

It's a scary but very vibrant time to be in this position we are. It might not be bad for those who are bold enough to grab it by the horns.

[peteforde]

I sympathize your your feelings of existential dread without further qualifiers. Big hug!

I personally think that as amazing as LLMs for coding are, LLMs for coding and electronics is like activating the powered robotic exoskeleton for your mind.

As for whether your projects are lower quality (the kids would say "mid"; catch up!) or not... they are higher quality than the ones you made last year, and I heard that the actual best way to learn is by doing. Ideally also asking a ton of questions at each step.

Some nights I lay in bed just relentlessly interrogating ChatGPT in audio mode about transformers and op-amps.

[steve_adams_86]

> I sympathize your your feelings of existential dread

Thank you!

> they are higher quality than the ones you made last year,

This is exactly it. Perfect is the enemy of good here. These projects have made significant impacts on how I get real things done.