Disposable Code Is Here to Stay, but Durable Code Is What Runs the World

The text explores the evolving landscape of software engineering, emphasizing the distinction between "disposable" and "durable" code. Disposable code, often used for quick, experimental purposes like design mocks and prototypes, has gained traction with advancements in AI tools, enabling rapid generation and iteration. In contrast, durable code underpins critical systems like banking and healthcare, requiring reliability, predictability, and extensive maintenance. The cost of software largely hinges on its maintenance, with durable code demanding investment in testing, observability, and risk management to ensure trust and stability. While AI aids in both domains, it's particularly transformative in reducing the time and complexity of tasks traditionally associated with durable code, such as instrumentation and incident analysis. The future of software development will likely continue to balance these two modalities, with disposable code serving as a skill set and durable code remaining a profession, as the latter's reliability and trustworthiness are indispensable for high-stakes applications.