Run Out to Meet It

The conversation explores the rapid changes in software development brought about by AI, particularly its impact on developers and the software engineering lifecycle. Charity Majors, an expert in observability, shares her perspective on how AI is reshaping coding, code review, and the roles of SREs and junior engineers. They discuss the shift from valuing "beautiful" code to prioritizing code that AI can read, and the need for developers to adapt and "run to the waves" of new technologies. The discussion touches on the challenges faced by junior engineers in this evolving landscape, the importance of continuous learning, and the potential for AI to augment rather than replace human developers. Majors also voices concerns about governance, political polarization and the need to manage one's attention and focus in the face of overwhelming information.