Core Insights - The article discusses the dilemma faced by a self-taught developer, kekda_charger, who questions whether he is genuinely learning programming or merely learning to interact with AI tools [1][3][6] - The reliance on AI for coding has led to a sense of inadequacy and anxiety about foundational skills and job readiness in the evolving tech landscape [3][4][6] Group 1: Developer's Journey - kekda_charger has been self-learning Django for three months and has achieved rapid progress, completing projects that typically take much longer to master [3] - Despite the impressive outcomes, 80%-90% of his code is generated by AI, leading to concerns about his actual coding abilities when not using AI [3][4] Group 2: Community Responses - Experienced developers reassured kekda_charger that in real-world scenarios, coding is rarely done from scratch, and using templates or existing code is common practice [4][5] - The importance of problem-solving skills over memorizing syntax was emphasized, suggesting that understanding how to approach coding challenges is more critical than knowing every detail of a programming language [4][5] Group 3: Career Implications - Developers who rely heavily on AI tools are categorized as "template builders," suitable for freelance or basic projects, with potential earnings around $100,000 [5] - For higher income potential, developers need to transition towards architecture roles, which involve designing and building APIs, with salaries ranging from $200,000 to $400,000 [5] Group 4: Future of Programming - The article highlights a fundamental question about the value of programmers in an AI-driven coding environment, suggesting that understanding underlying logic and system design remains essential [6] - The consensus in the developer community is that while AI can assist in coding, the ability to effectively use these tools to solve problems will define future success in the industry [6]