Is coding dead because AI has taken over it?

Influential personalities propagate such conclusions.

When different modes of transportation appeared over time in the past, it always accelerated the quality of mobility. This includes ships, trains, motorbikes, cars, and even airplanes.

During that time of transformation, none of the parents discouraged their child from learning to walk. Isn’t it? They never said, “Listen, child, walking is dead; learning to walk is of no use, because in the future we will have all these modes of transportation to get you wherever you need to go.”

The parents did not say so.

Why? Walking is a fundamental and necessary skill that will always hold importance, irrespective of technological advancements.

Walking is a learned behavior. You must go to get the vehicle, regardless of what you chose.

But you might say that I will minimize the number of steps while walking and use the mode of transportation efficiently.

• Do you know that to take one footstep, you need 30–40 major muscles actively involved normally? This includes muscles from both legs, the pelvis, the core, and even the arms.

• At minimum, about 10–15 major joints are continuously coordinated.

• Walking uses a set of nervous systems at the same time:

  • The spinal cord serves as an automatic rhythm generator.
  • The Brainstem & cerebellum serves to coordinate and balance.
  • The Cortex manages conscious control and adaptation.
  • Sensory systems provides constant feedback.

Back to programming, while doing so, programming activates a network, mainly:

• Prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) – working memory, planning, control (most important)
• Parietal cortex – logic, math, symbol manipulation
• Temporal lobes – memory and meaning of code
• Inferior frontal gyrus (language areas) – syntax and rules
• Visual cortex – reading and scanning code
• Anterior cingulate cortex – error detection and debugging
• Cerebellum – fluency and automation
• Default Mode Network – creativity and “aha” insights

Thus it mainly involves using short-term memory, decision-making, and logical thinking, guided by the prefrontal and parietal cortex, with help from memory, vision, and error-checking systems.

Just like walking requires a lot of physical effort for moving, which is learned and should be practiced, programming requires a lot of mental effort for thinking, which is learned and should be practiced.

On the other hand, AI is merely a tool. AI serves to swiftly process and transfer our thoughts. But they have never been the replacement for thinking, creativity, and imagination.

So do you think it is ok to tell people to focus just on AI-generated code (aka: Vibe Coding) rather than learning and practicing Computer Science fundamentals, programming paradigms, design patterns, and the ability to design simple and complex software systems?