Jeremy Scheff captures a particular loss experienced by career programmers as generative AI and coding agents become common tools. He recalls that programming once ranked among the most desirable jobs: professionals were paid to solve tricky logic puzzles, and the more challenging the puzzle, the greater the reward.
Scheff notes that even relatively simple problems commanded high value because "regular people just couldn't do it" — companies relied on programmers. Developers defined strategy, set timelines, and judged what was and was not possible.
The spread of large language models (LLMs) and coding agents is now altering that dynamic. For programmers whose main satisfaction comes from building working systems, these tools are a steady boon, increasing productivity and lowering friction. But for those whose enjoyment depended on directly tackling and solving problems — crafting solutions, wrestling with constraints, and deciding approaches — the loss is real and tangible.
Scheff's point raises a broader issue: tools reshape professional roles and the activities that once produced both value and fulfillment. While productivity and implementation speed may increase, the puzzle-like, craft aspect of programming can be diminished — and with it, the motivation and professional identity of some practitioners.
Implications and questions
- Machine assistance can boost efficiency but may reduce opportunities to practice creative problem-solving.
- Programming roles may bifurcate: some professionals focus on system-building and integration, while others find fewer chances to engage in puzzle-like work.
- Organizations and individuals should consider how to preserve professional development and satisfaction for those who valued programming as an intellectual craft.
Scheff's brief but pointed observation is a reminder that technological progress changes not only how work is done, but also how people experience their professions. Those human dimensions — what it feels like to enjoy and find meaning in a job — deserve attention as tools reshape the field.
