Software classics in the age of AI

AI promises to transform much of our lives, and is already changing the software industry dramatically.

But does it change what software development is fundamentally about?

I don’t believe it does.

We create software to create value.

Value is created in delivering working software to customers today. Even more value is created when we can easily change that software tomorrow.

AI is already dramatically speeding up our ability to deliver software to customers today.

But how well it works, and how easy it is to change, are much harder problems for AI to solve consistently.

I believe will require a human in the loop for a long time to come.

That’s why, rather than breathlessly following the latest hype about Ghibli day or getting swept away with vibe coding, I’ve been reading some ‘classics’ of software development theory and practice.

This week, I’ll be exploring some of them and sharing wisdom that becomes more, not less, relevant in the age of AI.