It's safe to say I'm addicted to the flow state. In software dev the core loop provides a steady loop of dopamine, knocking out task after task. I trade agency and direction for a steady stream of opportunities to achieve satisfying focus. Previously those tasks required some specialized knowledge, but in the age of AI that's not necessarily the case anymore, and so the need for my flow states has dried up.
Adjusting to this brave new world has required me to introspect into my desire to feel of use to others. How can I be of use now that most of my knowledge has been commoditized? Should I take this as an opportunity to divest myself of my "addiction" entirely?
Losing a Hobby
Seeing the previous era of flow state coding coming to an end has helped me realize that my weekend hobby of building web apps was more cosplay at building Products. This was not entirely unknown to me before, but it was easy to dismiss when bathed in the warm focus of a coding session. I knew in the back of my mind that the code (for what I build) was just a small — smallest? — part of a true value providing product.
The need for the flow is now gone, but that wasn't my only interest in building. Thankfully, I suppose, as a front end leaning person I also love user experience and product domains.
Moving up the stack
Now in both work and play I've been pushed up the stack. At work I've always pushed for autonomy and for developers to drive product decisions. I think makers have an on the ground perspective where pragmatic decisions that marry systems, business, and experience are uniquely possible.
I'm fortunate that as the need for designing basic logic wanes, I'm in a situation and even encouraged to drive product and experience direction. There's no flow states to be had it seems though. Evaluation is the job: reviewing others' executions of tasks, reviewing feedback from other product drivers, and reviewing the system the agents produce.
From here
I've not forgotten that even higher up (lower down) the stack are the business needs, but am somewhat relieved I have interest in other areas as my previous ones get crowded out. Product engineer has always seemed like a good fit, and I quite enjoy it, but doesn't provide the same instant gratification.