Before artificial intelligence entered our workflow, programming was a mix of logic, patience, and perseverance.
When a problem appeared and the code simply wouldn’t work, we entered a cycle of trial and error that could last hours, days, or even weeks. We would stare at the screen, test hypotheses, read through documentation, and change our approach over and over again. And when frustration reached its peak, we knew it was time to step away — take a walk, grab a coffee, or just disconnect for a while.
That “pause” was part of the process. And then, suddenly, like a lightbulb switching on, the solution would come. A single line of code changed, an unexpected idea, a fresh way to approach the problem… and everything fell into place. That sense of accomplishment was unique — the pride of having conquered the challenge on your own.
Today, AI can give you the answer in seconds. It’s useful, yes, and it speeds things up, but it also erases part of that journey. We no longer go through those long hours of analysis, doubt, and small victories that shaped us as developers.
This isn’t about rejecting technology, but about remembering that sometimes the value lies in the journey, not just the destination. I hope many programmers still get to experience that magical moment of finding the solution themselves — because that’s where much of the love for coding is born.
And of course, there’s always that satisfaction of telling your code:
“See? It was you, not me, after all.”
