🛠️Simon Willison: Coding Agents Make Engineering Harder
TL;DR
Simon Willison argues that coding agents don't simplify software engineering, they raise the bar, demanding more discipline and technical depth to use well. His blunt take: heavier AI assistance means more skill required, not less.
Simon Willison argues that coding agents don't simplify software engineering, they raise the bar, demanding more discipline and technical depth to use well. His blunt take: heavier AI assistance means more skill required, not less.
Key Points
Willison writes: 'The more time I spend working with coding agents, the more convinced I am that they make software engineering even harder'
The note argues effective agent use requires deeper technical judgment, not less
Posted as a short entry on September 24, 2026, tagged 'coding-agents,' 'llms,' and 'ai'
The take cuts against the industry narrative that agents lower the skill floor for building software
Why It Matters
One of the most-followed voices in AI engineering is pushing back on the idea that agents make coding accessible to less experienced developers, worth weighing against every 'anyone can code now' pitch.
Quick Facts
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