I've been a developer for 10 years. AI just showed me I only had one real skill.

A veteran developer reflects on how generative AI has fundamentally shifted the nature of software engineering. After using AI to build a functional application in forty minutes—a task that previously required years of experience—the author realized that most technical skills, such as syntax, framework knowledge, and CRUD implementation, are essentially 'rented' from documentation and easily replicated by machines. The author argues that the true, irreplaceable skill of a senior developer is 'judgment': the ability to look at working, clean code and identify potential flaws, risks, or logical failures that automated systems cannot detect. Instead of mourning the loss of production-based skills, the author suggests that developers should pivot their focus toward skepticism and critical oversight. By separating the roles of the 'author' (the AI) and the 'skeptic' (the human), developers can leverage AI for speed while retaining ownership of the critical decision-making process.