The diminished art of coding

This article reflects on the evolution of programming as an art form in the age of AI coding agents. The author contrasts the traditional craft of coding—where elegance and mastery are admired in code reviews—with the experience of reviewing AI-generated code, which feels detached and prompts higher-level thinking about architecture and intent. The piece argues that AI has resolved the tension between code as art and code as means to an end, favoring function over form. Programmers now act as blueprint designers or overseers rather than master carpenters, focusing on systems, resilience, and testing while letting go of nitpicking details. The author suggests that artistry now lies in taste and judgment at a strategic level, not in manual coding finesse.