#14 Build With Intention | The Developer's Job Is Changing

Hello Reader,

Something's already shifted in software development.

The way we build is different now. And if you're a developer, engineer, or founder ~ this matters.

Intention

For years, being a great developer meant writing great code.

That's not where the edge is anymore.

Today, the best developers I know aren't writing every line by hand. They're directing. Specifying. Orchestrating.

It's called Spec Driven Development.

Instead of writing code from scratch, you write the specification. The intent. The architecture. Then you guide AI to generate, iterate, and refine.

Your value isn't in typing faster. It's about thinking more clearly.

Insight

The developers who resist this ~ "AI can't write real code" ~ are falling behind.

The developers who embrace it ~ "How do I direct AI to build this?" ~ are moving faster than ever.

Coding skills aren't dead. You still need to understand systems, debug, architect, and make trade-offs.

But the job is becoming less about writing and more about directing.

Less time in the weeds. More time at the whiteboard.

We are calling this agentic engineering ~ working with AI agents that do the heavy lifting while you focus on intent and decision-making.

The shift is already here.

Action

If AI is writing 80% of your code, what do you do with that time?

Think deeper about architecture? Talk to customers? Move from execution to strategy?

The developers who thrive won't be the fastest coders. They'll be the clearest thinkers.

A Note

If you're navigating this shift and want help thinking it through, I'm opening up a few spots for 1:1 coaching.

Whether you're a developer figuring out where to focus, or a founder building a technical team ~ I'd love to chat.

​Apply here →​

📚 This Week's Reading

From 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan:

The identity of "I write code" might be the thing holding you back from "I design systems."

📖 Grab the book here.​
This is an affiliate link — if you purchase through it, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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Let me know, what are you building with intention this week?

Build well
Sahil