Software developers once defined their worth by the lines of code they produced. Those days have faded. Tools powered by large language models now generate vast stretches of code in moments, forcing a reckoning across the industry. Yet the outcome looks less like mass unemployment and more like a quiet redefinition of what the job demands. A thoughtful post from developer Yakko last week captured the uncertainty many feel. He split practitioners into two loose groups: those who treat code as a path to building products and those drawn to the craft of algorithms and optimization itself. For the first group, which includes Yakko and Boris Cherny of Claude Code fame, artificial intelligence promises faster prototyping and broader reach. It also erodes the gatekeeper status developers once held. Domain experts no longer need them to translate ideas into working software. ( Yakko.dev ) Optimism runs through his analysis. He sees no sudden disappearance of developer roles.…