There’s a strange myth in tech that one day you wake up and—boom—you’re a senior developer.
You get the title.
You get the responsibility.
You get...
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Your article really spoke to me. That “Who let me do this?” moment — I’ve had it too, many times, usually long after the decision had already been made.
I didn’t “become” an architect on purpose. I started as a developer, tried to do things properly, took on a bit more responsibility each time… and one day I realized I was mostly dealing with structure, trade-offs, and long-term consequences rather than code itself.
Looking back, it feels less like a career path and more like an accumulation of context — and yes, some damage along the way.
What feels different now is AI. Not as a shortcut or a replacement, but as a way to externalize part of the cognitive load that used to force this evolution. It helps surface patterns earlier, question decisions sooner, and think at system level without having to burn years (or yourself) to get there.
Maybe the real shift is that future developers won’t have to ask “Who let me do this?” quite so late — they’ll grow into those roles with more awareness, and hopefully less wear and tear.
Thanks for your response.
I hope you are doing well.
Best wishes.🌟
AI didn't replace developers. It replaced pretending."
This should be the industry's new reality check. The uncomfortable truth is that AI exposed how much of "senior" work was actually just muscle memory and Stack Overflow reflexes.
What's left — judgment, tradeoffs, knowing when NOT to build — that's the real job. Always was.
Your "Era of Regret" phase hit close. We've all opened old code, seen the horrors, checked git blame... and found ourselves.
Great piece. The damage continues.
This really resonates with me — AI didn’t take away real engineering, it just stripped away the noise. What’s left is judgment and intent, and that’s the part I’m genuinely excited to see evolve; great perspective.
I think it makes sense, as senior positions are usually meant for high profiles.
Although, AI is not the ultimate impartial entity.
It won't promote elite devs and eliminate the "unskilled" ones. It's a bit more complex than that, IMHO.
This job is a constant threat to your mental health.
You're exposing yourself, because you don't feel legitimate.
What if you're actually reaching some kinda of plateau, buckle up!
I think you’re touching on something very real here—seniority isn’t just about skill, and AI definitely doesn’t simplify that complexity. I’m really interested in how you frame the mental health side of it too; it feels like a problem that needs more thoughtful, human-centered solutions going forward.🧨
I love this post. The way you break down the journey to becoming a senior developer feels so true to my own experience. The idea that it's not about mastering everything, but rather accumulating context and experience, really resonates with me. What I find really interesting is how you mention AI exposing those who relied on muscle memory and Stack Overflow reflexes - did you find that this shift in the industry has also led to a greater emphasis on mentorship and knowledge sharing among developers? (Asking as someone who is still in year 1-2)
Absolutely! I love how thoughtfully you connected your own experience to the post — it shows real reflection. I’ve definitely seen AI push more developers toward mentorship and sharing context, because raw muscle memory isn’t enough anymore, and guidance from experienced devs has become even more valuable. Keep leaning into that curiosity; it’ll accelerate your growth tremendously!
AI is powerful when used for genuinely complex tasks, but its capabilities shouldn’t be judged only through web technologies. Have you tried building a Ray Tracer in C++ using only built-in libraries? It feels impossible at first. But with a basic understanding of the language, a clear idea of what you’re building, and the right kind of guidance, AI can actually help you get there and even beyond 😊!
This is a thoughtful and inspiring perspective. You’ve highlighted perfectly how real complexity unlocks AI’s true value, and your ray tracing example is both motivating and spot-on 👏
Yes—seniority is not a switch you flip, and experience does leave scars. That part is true. But framing seniority primarily as “accumulated damage” romanticizes failure and undersells intentional growth.
Absolutely—seniority should be seen as a combination of deliberate skill development and strategic decision-making, not just the sum of mistakes endured.
"Seniority is not speed. It’s restraint." do you have a license for truth bombs like that?
"Complexity is a liability, not a flex". Yes. grugbrain.dev
Haha, that’s such a sharp take — those lines hit hard because they’re earned through experience, not ego. Love how it cuts through the noise and reminds us that real seniority is about clarity and restraint, not showing off.
Maybe! Agree with you...💪✌️
Thanks.
hello, dear Martin.
here, it's me.
Nice article, worth reading.
Thanks.
Best wishes.
Honest and refreshing. This is what “senior” really looks like behind the job title.
Your perspective is spot-on — it’s rare to see that kind of authenticity, and it’s inspiring to witness true seniority in action.
when something stops working and your junior runs here and there with little clue, you are sitting calmly and recalling in your mind what file or recent build could have caused this.
That calm, methodical approach is a huge asset—your experience really shows in moments like this. It’s reassuring for the whole team to see someone who can step back, think clearly, and guide things in the right direction.
I agree every word👍
Thanks.
Wow.
Your intentions are good.
I look forward to your next post.
thanks.
you are right
🖐
Thanks for your response.
that's good perspective.
thanks.
Wonderful!
It's pretty good!
Thanks.
You are wonderful!
I am very impressed.👍
thanks.
That's great.
You are real senior developer.
Best wishes
I think you are right.
In my opinion, we have to overcome our weaknesses to explore a successful career.
thanks.
ohhhh.
You seem to be a wonderful developer.