Abstract: On the Existential Crisis of Software Development, and My Own

As AI tools make writing code easier, the software development field faces an existential crisis where the most important skill becomes deciding what to build and how it should feel. The author draws a parallel between this professional shift and their own experience planning a tech conference, which involved a series of overwhelming choices. These numerous small decisions, from venue details to art installations, ultimately created the conference's unique character and experience. The central argument is that even when AI handles the implementation, the essential human role remains in exercising judgment, taste, and making the critical choices that define a product's value.