The release of GPT-5, now integrated into tools like GitHub Copilot, marks a significant turning point for software development. LLMs such as Claude Code and GPT-5 can generate complex code. „Agentic“ tasks are pushing the industry toward a new paradigm where developers orchestrate multiple AI agents to build entire systems. This shift is changing the game from focus on writing code to designing and managing sophisticated, automated workflows. The image was generated by GPT-5.
🧑💻 The identity crisis of the coder
As LLMs take on more of the routine coding tasks, many software engineers are in danger of having an identity crisis. People who could code have held considerable financial and cultural power in the past decades, as the demand for this skill skyrocketed. Now prompting can generate code. The traditional identity of a software engineer as a „coder“ is giving way to a new role: that of an architect. Engineers must now focus on higher-level problem-solving, system design, and quality assurance. This transition from a hands-on builder to a manager of AI collaborators is creating a new dynamic in the profession.
🎓 Is It Still Worth Studying Software Engineering?
Yes. The core skills are still important. The difference is how these skills are applied. While a junior engineer from a few years ago might have spent their time writing code according to requirements, today’s junior engineers need to step into the role of a junior architect, understanding business requirements and planning how to use AI agents to build a solution. The education remains essential because it provides the foundational knowledge needed to effectively design and manage these AI-driven systems.
🧠 The Future Is Model-Based (and Prompt-Driven)
Approaches such as Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Extreme Model-Based Development (MBD) will become important for software engineering. These approaches, which prioritize high-level models and rapid prototyping over manual coding. As LLMs become integrated into these tools, prompt engineering and designing agents will become more important than coding. The field is not contracting; it is expanding to include these advanced, conceptual skills, making the modern software engineer’s role broader and more challenging than ever.
Want to hear more about the future of software engineering?
Watch this video on the D3M Labs YouTube Channel with Elizabeth Press and Varshith Anilkumar.
Check out Varshith’s website: varshithanilkumar.com
