Is Coding still worth it in 2024? (as an ex-Google programmer)

TechLead
24 Dec 202313:36

TLDRThe video script discusses the diminishing value of coding in the modern job market, with the rise of AI and oversaturation of software engineers. The speaker, a former tech lead, argues that coding is becoming a dead-end job and compares it to the 'college delusion', where people invest in education that doesn't lead to success. The script also highlights the shift towards social media and content creation as more lucrative paths, and criticizes the focus on coding within Silicon Valley. The speaker suggests that entrepreneurship and skills like PHP and Java are more valuable in today's economy, and concludes with a review of the Keyron Q1 Max mechanical keyboard.

Takeaways

  • 🚫 The speaker, a former tech lead, asserts that coding is no longer a worthwhile pursuit due to the rise of AI and oversaturated job markets.
  • 🌐 The current landscape is shifting towards AI chatbots and no-code solutions, which are replacing traditional software engineering roles.
  • 👥 There's a general decline in consumer interest in downloading apps or visiting websites, leading to a decrease in demand for coding skills.
  • 🌳 The speaker has not coded in a year, choosing to travel and observe that non-technical people are not interested in coding discussions.
  • 💡 The concept of 'coding delusion' is introduced, comparing it to the 'college delusion' where people invest in education that does not lead to success.
  • 🤖 Coding is likened to a dead-end job, with the promise of high-status and wealth not reflecting the reality for most developers.
  • 🎨 The new economy values social media and content creation over traditional tech jobs, with influencers and media personalities finding more success.
  • 🛠️ Skills like React are deemed 'slave skills' as they are easy to learn and do not require advanced programming knowledge, making them less valuable.
  • 💼 Entrepreneurship and creative endeavors are suggested as more promising paths to success and status than traditional coding jobs.
  • 📚 The speaker criticizes outdated university degrees in computer science, stating they do not teach relevant skills like AI or machine learning.
  • 🌟 The importance of adapting to new technologies and opportunities, such as blockchain and the creator economy, is emphasized over traditional coding roles.

Q & A

  • What is the speaker's stance on the current value of coding as a profession?

    -The speaker believes that coding is no longer as valuable as it once was, citing the rise of AI, oversaturated job markets, and a shift in consumer behavior away from apps and websites.

  • What does the speaker suggest is a better alternative to a career in software engineering?

    -The speaker suggests entrepreneurship as a more promising alternative to software engineering, as it offers higher status and potentially more lucrative opportunities compared to the traditional 9-to-5 coding job.

  • How does the speaker describe the state of the software engineering job market?

    -The speaker describes the software engineering job market as oversaturated, with too many people learning to code and a general loss of consumer interest in new apps or websites.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the use of AI and no-code solutions in the tech industry?

    -The speaker views AI and no-code solutions as the future of the tech industry, stating that these technologies are rendering traditional coding skills less relevant and will eventually replace many software engineering jobs.

  • What does the speaker mean by 'coding delusion'?

    -The 'coding delusion' refers to the speaker's belief that many people falsely view coding as a guaranteed path to success, similar to how some view college degrees. The speaker argues that this is a misguided belief in the current era of AI and no-code solutions.

  • What does the speaker suggest about the role of social media in the modern economy?

    -The speaker suggests that social media has become a crucial layer in the modern economy, creating opportunities for individuals to build personal brands and generate income in ways that traditional software engineering roles cannot match.

  • What is the speaker's view on the skills taught in traditional computer science degrees?

    -The speaker believes that traditional computer science degrees are outdated and do not prepare students for the realities of the modern tech industry, which is increasingly focused on AI and no-code solutions.

  • What is the significance of the speaker's mention of his travels and encounters with other remote workers and digital nomads?

    -The speaker uses his travels and encounters to illustrate the growing trend of non-traditional work lifestyles, such as remote work and digital nomadism, which offer more flexibility and potentially higher status than traditional software engineering roles.

  • What does the speaker mean when he says 'React is the language of slaves'?

    -The speaker argues that React, as a programming language, was designed to be simple and easy to use, making it suitable for junior engineers who lack advanced coding skills. He suggests that using React does not qualify one as a 'real' software engineer or developer because it does not involve complex algorithms or data structures.

  • What is the speaker's advice for those who wish to be in the top 10% of the population in terms of success?

    -The speaker advises considering the entrepreneurial route, as it offers a higher status and potentially more income than traditional software engineering roles. However, he acknowledges that not everyone is suited for entrepreneurship and that it requires hard work.

  • How does the speaker describe the impact of the internet revolution on the relevance of traditional coding skills?

    -The speaker believes that the internet revolution, along with the rise of AI and no-code solutions, has made many traditional coding skills less relevant. He suggests that the industry is moving towards a model where coding is less about technical skills and more about understanding and utilizing machine learning models.

Outlines

00:00

🚫 The Decline of Coding as a Viable Career

The speaker, a former Google Tech Lead, argues that coding is no longer a promising career path due to the rise of AI and an oversaturated job market. They mention the collapse of career paths and the shift in consumer interest away from apps and websites. The speaker shares their personal experience of not coding for a year and traveling, emphasizing that coding is becoming a 'dead-end job' and comparing it to the 'college delusion' where people invest in education that doesn't lead to success. They also criticize the current state of software engineering and the unrealistic expectations set by 'code influencers' in the industry.

05:01

🌐 The Shift in Internet Usage and Opportunities

The speaker discusses the changing landscape of internet usage, noting that most activity is now concentrated in a few social media platforms. They highlight the emergence of 'code influencers' who promote coding as a path to wealth and success, despite the reality being different. The speaker argues that coding has become a 'Ponzi scheme,' with many developers using languages like React, which simplifies the process and doesn't require advanced skills. They suggest that the real opportunities lie in entrepreneurship and leveraging social media, rather than traditional coding jobs.

10:04

🛠️ The Evolution of Skills and the Role of Entrepreneurship

The speaker contrasts the traditional role of software engineers, which was designed for a sedentary lifestyle with a stable income, against the modern desire for more dynamic and fulfilling careers. They argue that the status and income associated with software engineering are no longer as attractive as they once were. The speaker advocates for entrepreneurship as a path to higher status and wealth, suggesting that the old ways of making money through coding are outdated. They also touch on the importance of social status and the desire for recognition, using examples from 'Ultra Elite families' to illustrate the point that status is everything.

🎹 The Keychron Q1 Max: A Mechanical Keyboard Review

The speaker concludes the video with a review of the Keychron Q1 Max, a mechanical keyboard. They praise the keyboard's feel, sound, and design, highlighting the custom Gadon banana switches and the double-shot PBT keycaps. The speaker also mentions the improved connectivity with Bluetooth wireless, allowing for connection to multiple devices. They share their positive experience with the keyboard and recommend it to viewers who appreciate high-quality mechanical keyboards.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI chatbots

AI chatbots are computer programs designed to simulate conversation with human users, offering information or assistance. In the video, the speaker suggests that the rise of AI chatbots like Chat GPT indicates a shift away from traditional coding jobs, as these bots can perform tasks previously requiring human programmers.

💡Oversaturated job market

An oversaturated job market refers to a situation where there are more job seekers than available positions, leading to increased competition and potentially lower wages. The video discusses the software engineering field as being particularly oversaturated, with many people learning to code and thus driving down the value of this skill.

💡No-code solutions

No-code solutions are platforms or tools that allow users to build applications, websites, or automate processes without the need to write any code. The video suggests that the rise of no-code solutions is contributing to the decline in demand for traditional coding skills, as more people can create digital products without learning to code.

💡Dead-end job

A dead-end job is a type of employment that offers little or no opportunity for advancement, growth, or significant income increase. In the context of the video, the speaker argues that software engineering has become a dead-end job due to market saturation and technological advancements that reduce the need for human coders.

💡Digital nomads

Digital nomads are individuals who use technology to earn a living and who work remotely while traveling. The video touches on the increasing popularity of this lifestyle, which contrasts with traditional 9-to-5 jobs and suggests that the desire for such freedom is driving people away from careers like software engineering.

💡Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the process of designing, launching, and running a startup or a small business. The video suggests that entrepreneurship may be a more viable and higher-status path for individuals than software engineering, as it allows for greater potential for wealth and personal fulfillment.

💡React

React is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces, particularly for single-page applications. It is mentioned in the video as an example of a tool that has simplified web development to the point where it requires less traditional coding skill, thus contributing to the speaker's argument that coding is becoming less valuable.

💡Social media revolution

The social media revolution refers to the profound changes in communication, marketing, and business models brought about by the rise of social media platforms. The video argues that this revolution has created new opportunities for individuals to gain wealth and status, often bypassing traditional career paths like software engineering.

💡Status

In the context of the video, 'status' refers to the social standing, recognition, or prestige that an individual holds within society. The speaker suggests that traditional high-status jobs, such as directing movies or being an actor, offer more social credibility than software engineering, which is seen as a more mundane and less prestigious occupation.

💡Programming languages

Programming languages are formal systems of communication designed to instruct a computer or computing device to perform specific tasks. The video discusses the evolution of programming languages, particularly the rise of React and the perceived devaluation of traditional coding skills like understanding algorithms and data structures.

💡Keyron Q1 Max

The Keyron Q1 Max is a mechanical keyboard mentioned in the video, which the speaker praises for its design, feel, and functionality. It serves as an example of a product review within the broader discussion about the future of coding and technology.

Highlights

Coding is no longer seen as a guaranteed path to success due to the rise of AI and oversaturated job market.

The speaker, an ex-Google X Meta Tech lead, suggests that software engineering may become a dead-end job.

There's a general loss of consumer interest in downloading more apps or visiting websites.

The collapse of entire career paths is a generational occurrence, and software engineering might be next.

The speaker hasn't coded in a year, choosing to travel and observe a shift in interests away from coding.

Skillshare is mentioned as a platform to learn various skills for side hustles, including email marketing and AI tools.

The term 'coding delusion' is coined, comparing it to the 'college delusion' where people invest in education that doesn't lead to success.

Coding was once viewed as a path to becoming a tech billionaire like Zuckerberg or Bezos, but this is no longer the case.

The rise of no-code solutions and social media has created a new generation of millionaires, bypassing traditional coding roles.

React is described as the language of slaves, developed by Facebook for junior engineers who couldn't develop otherwise.

Many people are becoming React developers without real software engineering skills, which the speaker views as a dead-end.

The speaker suggests that the traditional software engineer role is becoming less desirable due to its sedentary lifestyle and lower status.

Entrepreneurship is suggested as a higher-status alternative to software engineering for those willing to take the risk.

The speaker criticizes the outdated nature of university degrees in computer science, which don't keep up with rapid technological changes.

New opportunities in blockchain, AI, and social media are seen as more promising than traditional coding roles.

The speaker argues that modern technology, fueled by data and AI, requires less coding and offers higher leverage opportunities.

The 'coding delusion' is based on outdated university education that fails to teach students about current technologies like AI and chatbots.

The speaker promotes the Keychron Q1 Max mechanical keyboard as an updated and high-quality tool for typing and coding.

The video concludes with a recommendation for viewers to check out the Keychron Q1 Max keyboard.

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