June 27, 2026

Did AI kill the business of coding?

Someone asked me if writing software is becoming an even worse business in the age of AI.

My answer was:

Yes and no.

If you know how to write code, AI gives you superpowers.

Coding is almost the perfect use case for LLMs because it’s language-based and the output can be validated with automated tests.

So yes, a good developer can probably ship a lot more utility in a lot less time than they could before.

But!

That does not magically make writing software a great solo business.

If the buyer thinks “AI writes code now,” then the perceived value of code goes down even if your actual ability to create value-producing features goes up.

In other words, AI might make you dramatically more productive while simultaneously making your deliverable look more like a commodity.

Here’s the thing...

If the client’s perceived value of software is cut in half BUT your output goes up by 10x, your profitability goes up by a factor of 5.

As long as you’re using value based fees to price your projects.

If you’re billing by the hour, you’re in big trouble.

Yours,

—J

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