Developers Who Knew Nothing

A developer reflects on shipping five apps using AI-generated code (vibe coding), admitting he couldn't confidently explain the codebases. While the approach works for small apps, he warns about the broader trend of developers losing deep understanding of their own systems. The core concern: programming skills like architecture, debugging, and design atrophy without practice, and speed without understanding creates long-term maintenance and trust risks. He advocates using AI as an instructor rather than a replacement for thinking.