The Meaning Crisis for Programmers: English as the New Code
The rise of automation and AI is transforming the world of programming in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a few decades ago. For many programmers, coding has been more than just a job—it’s been a craft, a way of solving problems, and even a form of creative expression. But as AI continues to advance, we’re beginning to see a shift: English is becoming the new programming language. This shift, while exciting, brings with it a unique version of The Meaning Crisis for programmers. If traditional coding becomes less essential, how do programmers define their roles, their value, and their purpose? --- The Rise of Natural Language Programming AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and other generative technologies are changing how we approach programming. Tasks that once required hours of complex coding can now be achieved by simply describing the desired outcome in plain English. This evolution democratizes programming, making it more accessible to non-programmers. But it also challenges the i...