Writing Code Was Never the Bottleneck

10 months ago

Writing code is not the main bottleneck in software engineering.
Bottlenecks include code reviews, knowledge transfer, testing, debugging, and coordination.
Processes meant to ensure quality often slow down development more than coding itself.
LLMs make it easier to generate code quickly, but understanding and maintaining it remains costly.
Generated code increases pressure on reviewers and maintainers.
The biggest cost of code is understanding it, not writing it.
LLMs haven't reduced the effort needed for reasoning about behavior or ensuring maintainability.
Software engineering relies on collaboration, shared understanding, and mentoring.
Faster code generation risks compromising quality if not carefully reviewed.
Clear thinking, careful review, and thoughtful design remain essential despite LLMs.

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