Are Mid-Level Coding Jobs Under Threat From No-Code & AI?

Becoming a programmer used to be a reliable career path that ensured you wouldn’t ever go out of a job as long as you stayed up to date with the latest platforms and developments. Even better, beginners start with a good salary and have the opportunity to grow fast.

However, the appearance of no-code platforms and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI) that can write the code for you (like ChatGPT) has shaken the programming jobs market. While traditional coding jobs may not be in danger right now, we have to ask ourselves a very important question.

If these tools continue to improve, will there be a time when mid-level coding specialists will no longer be needed? And if so, will there be an incentive for young people to learn coding from scratch?

Let’s have a look at what kind of future we should expect in the world of coding.

How No-Code Platforms and AI Impact Traditional Coding

Not so far back, creating a software product meant hiring a team of skilled coders to write lines of code manually. Nowadays, there’s no need for a team of coders unless you’re creating an overly complex product.

Small and medium-sized level products can be handled with the help of no-code platforms and AI. For instance, anyone who wants to put together a small app can do so with the help of a no-code platform. Since these platforms use drag-and-drop elements, pre-built templates, and automated code generation, you don’t even need to understand how code works.

On the other hand, we have AI with its remarkable capabilities in automating tasks once exclusive to human programmers. AI can be used to streamline code writing, identify bugs more efficiently than any human could, or even build entire systems from scratch without human intervention.

This eliminates many of the software production problems that create delays and can lead to failure after the product has been launched. Plus, it reduces the time spent on routine tasks that halter productivity.

So, Why Are Programmers Worried?

When these two technologies combine, software producers can unlock new levels of speed and efficiency in software development. But it can also create an environment where software developers only need a few ultra-skilled programmers and not an entire team of junior, mid-level, and senior specialists.

For instance, if you have the right knowledge, you can use AI and no-code platforms to create, develop, and test sophisticated products like top Real Estate CRM systems, field management tools, and project management platforms.

We may not be at that level of technology and integration yet, but it may not take long before these tasks can be accomplished without much human supervision or intervention. This has the potential to destabilize the programming jobs market and the software products industry.

Will AI Take Programming Jobs?

It’s clear that the traditional approach of line-by-line coding is headed to an end. Most programmers are already using the assembly style of product building, where they use libraries and pre-built snippets of code. AI and no-code platforms will only speed things up in this direction for everyone.

So, is there a reason to follow a career path in programming once you graduate?

Industry experts offer a balanced perspective on this. First off, there’s still plenty of demand for professionals who can write complex code – an aspect where machines struggle. Additionally, the no-code movement has ignited a wider democratization of tech skills and heightened interest in programming itself.

Moreover, while AI and automated tools promise efficiency gains in some areas of programming, certain tasks remain distinctly human ventures, such as creating innovative algorithms or developing new approaches for user interface design.

Wrap Up

The anxiety around AI and no-code platforms has been hyped by the media (traditional and online). While it’s true that specialists who refuse to integrate AI into their daily practice may be left behind, for now, there is no real threat to most coding jobs.

Software developers will continue to need skilled programmers for years to come. And, as a programmer, you have the benefit of using technologies that make your work less about grind and more about fun and creativity.