Some of the most skilled software developers that I know of are also strong writers. I've never really thought too much about it until recently, when Thorsten Ball made me want a hamburger while also describing a new feature release from Amp. Then Steve Yegge wrote another post from 6 months beyond the frontier of agentic development.
And then, a few days ago while listening to DHH share his updated stance on AI, it hit me - The act of building software is the act of forming an opinion.
"This is the way a coding harness should perform."
"This is the way a large group of agents should interact together."
"This is the way Linux should feel."
Building software involves logical thinking, supporting arguments, cross-examination. Good software stays good because that core opinion doesn't get watered down over time. Conversely, it can begin to rot as features (new opinions) get added on that don't align with the core idea that resonated with users.
This is why AI is bringing design, tech, product people onto the same level - anyone can have an opinion about how things should be built:
All of these are opinions that builders could have as they shape their products.
This is also why you can't give your control over completely to the models - slop is offensive and filler thought. It's alright to work alongside agents (obviously), shaping the product as you see it take form, building some parts out while carving out others. But the moment you allow claude/gpt/grok to finish your figurative sentence, the moment your opinion is not fully your own. And a lot of the time, that's alright! To move further, you need to bring in collaborators. Just be wary of what parts of the process you hand over.
Finally, this is why it's so damn important to ship. The act of shipping is the act of sharing your opinion with others. Real users will navigate your opinion, test out edge cases, make it stronger by finding flaws. This can be intimidating! But truly, the only way to get better at having an opinion is by having one in the first place, and then sharing that opinion with others.
So, have an opinion! Work on it! Work on it some more! Make it your own! But most importantly, share your opinion. That's the only way we all keep getting better.