What we lost when we stopped programming
The author reflects on the emotional impact of generative AI on their passion for programming. They express a sense of loss as AI has taken over many tasks that once brought them joy and fulfillment. Despite the efficiency AI brings, the author feels that the art of programming has diminished, leaving them questioning the value of their skills.
- ▪The author started programming at age 11 and found joy in creating games and websites.
- ▪With the rise of AI, many programming contests have disappeared as AI can solve problems faster than humans.
- ▪The author feels a loss of purpose in learning programming languages since AI can generate code quickly.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
What we lost when we stopped programming A personal reflection on programming after generative AI. Posted on 24 May, 2026 · 6 min read Today I want to share something quite personal, and more emotional than I would typically post on this blog. I have been living in a mild state of malaise, and for me, it took deep self-reflection to realize what the root cause was. Some time in the last year, slowly but surely, the world lost something important to me: the art of programming. I started programming when I was about 11 years old. It captured me pretty much instantly. It was just so much fun to be able to make games, interactive desktop wallpapers, and websites. I loved being able to make interactive experiences that I could share with others.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Hermanschaaf.
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