Maybe you know who I am, but again, my name is Frederick Peñalo from Quisqueya. You’re invited here anytime.
Okay, now talking seriously.
I started using AI at work around the GPT-4 era. By January, I became what people now call a “vibe coder.” But not in the way many people think. I don’t just generate code with AI and deploy it blindly. I generate code, review it carefully, improve it, and then deploy it.
For me, it was a huge change. At first it felt uncomfortable, but now I’m adapting to it.
Like everything in life, though, there’s a problem.
First it was GPT. Then Gemini. Then DeepSeek and all the huge Chinese AI models. Now we have Claude Code creating code, people building “skills” and agents to improve productivity… and honestly, that word has become the center of everything:
Productivity
Last year, my team worked with a Kanban workflow, and I deployed maybe one feature per week.
Now I deploy 3 or 4 times per day.
The world now understands the potential of AI. We even have non-technical people creating software now (that’s a discussion for another post). Because of that, everyone expects software engineers to become dramatically more productive.
And yes, maybe I’m not writing every line of code anymore.
But I am:
- designing architecture
- building scalable products
- improving security
- creating documentation
- building skills and workflows
- translating business logic into working systems
- reviewing and correcting AI mistakes
Sometimes my own mind sabotages me.
I see people online doing incredible things with AI while I still feel like I barely know all these new tools. Last month the best AI UI/UX tool was Google Stitch. Now it’s Claude Design. Then someone creates Open Design using open-source models.
Everything moves so fast.
AI made me far more productive at work, but sometimes I wonder if it’s slowly making me less “smart” at coding itself.
Maybe that feeling is wrong. I honestly hope so.
Programming is becoming “pay to win”
The coding world now feels a little “pay to win.”
The more money you can spend on Claude, OpenAI, GPUs, tools, agents, APIs, or whatever new Chinese model appears next… the more powerful you become as a developer.
And it feels weird.
Yesterday, you were considered a great Senior Engineer because of your experience, knowledge, and brain.
Today, someone can replicate software just by paying for AI systems that were trained using your GitHub repositories, your Stack Overflow answers, and years of knowledge shared by developers online.
For me, coding was art.
Now it feels… strange.
I can’t fully explain the feeling. Just strange.
I imagine this is how a chef feels when fast food becomes more profitable than cooking.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading.
Really.
I appreciate you taking the time.
I’m sending you a hug, have a great day, and if nobody has told you today:
— You are awesome.