HACKER Q&A
📣 ionwake

What are your plans when coding is obsolete?


Ive been using ClaudeCode as a veteran coder, I feel I will be out of work by the end of this year.

I am not interested in hearing from folks who think "there will always be something". Yes I know. I know we will all continue to code as hobbies and AI will be fun to us. I am talkign in regards to employment. I mean for most of us whats next? Gardening? Plumbing?

I know this might be a sad topic, but I am allowed to ask this folks


  👤 WheelsAtLarge Accepted Answer ✓
You have to move up a level if you can. There will always be a need to develop and manage coding projects, so instead of writing the code, learn to develop a project and use AI to write a lot of it. AI can't figure out what humans need but you can.

Think about it in these terms. Currently, you can travel anywhere in the world, but you need to figure out how to get there. A lot of time, it involves cars, planes, boats, whatever. It does not involve walking like it might have been 100s of years ago. The transportation is done by machines. AI is the new automation tool. It doesn't decide where you are going, it can't. You do.


👤 zahlman
>I know this might be a sad topic, but I am allowed to ask this folks

>I am not interested in hearing from folks who (disagree with me)

I am pretty sure that is not how HN is intended to work.


👤 mtmail
My worry would be that many related job types that involve tech would become obsolete fast, too. Woodworking is a popular answer. Teaching. Realistically I'd probably end up in a job somewhere automating even more processes (building houses using robots?) which will make even more people jobless in the search for efficiency.

Related "Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35008392


👤 throwaway2982z
I am doing the introduction courses for two trades this year. By the end of the year I will either be an apprentice electrician or working for a land surveying firm.

👤 aaronrobinson
I’ve done a few building trade courses btw but with more of an eye on DIY versus employment. They’re a lot of fun but just be aware that some professions you can’t just do a course then start doing work in houses, at least in the UK. You need to obtain qualifications through approved training and then go through an apprenticeship. These are harder to obtain the older you get.

👤 almosthere
I have been learning to build. I would recommend becoming an electrician.

👤 aaronrobinson
If you can afford to do something that involves your passions.