{
  "id": 11184462,
  "title": "How to Develop Software Engineering Skills in the Age of AI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/how-to-develop-software-engineering-skills-in-the-age-of-ai",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-01T11:47:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "InfoQ",
    "slug": "infoq",
    "url": "https://www.infoq.com/news/2026/10/software-engineering-skills/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The world of software engineering is rapidly evolving, with artificial intelligence playing an increasingly significant role. However, Chelsea Troy, a presenter at the Craft conference, warns that this rapid pace of progress can hinder skill development. Troy argues that tools and AI may accelerate outcomes, but they do not necessarily support the development of essential skills.\n\nAccording to Troy, engineers must have a deep understanding of how systems function in order to effectively learn and grow. Senior developers can play a crucial role in coaching junior colleagues by employing effective learning techniques. She emphasizes that there are two primary modes in software engineering: figuring things out and doing things. When engineers focus on \"doing stuff,\" they often speed up the process, which can lead to difficulties in figuring things out when it's needed.\n\nTo truly figure things out, Troy argues that developers must slow down and dedicate time to understanding the underlying concepts. Engaging activities that promote learning, despite being inefficient in terms of time, are necessary for building cognitive capacity. These activities require attention and engagement, even when the learner feels frustrated or confused. This discomfort is essential for developing cognitive skills.\n\nOne concept from neuroscience that Troy highlights is spaced repetition. Reduced to its essentials, skill development requires focused attention interspersed with quality sleep. By spreading out learning over multiple sessions and ensuring adequate rest, developers can improve their ability to internalize information. Another key technique is to encourage junior colleagues to actively guess the next step in the learning process. This approach, known as outcome prediction, allows learners to engage more deeply with the material.\n\nTroy also stresses the importance of format diversification in learning. People tend to learn better when the same information is presented in multiple different formats, rather than repeatedly in the same format. This is because the second or third exposure to the information, when it's encountered in a new format, is when it tends to stick. Generative AI has certainly changed the landscape of skill development for software engineering, but Troy argues that the biology and psychology of problem-solving have not changed as quickly. To effectively use tools, developers must understand both how they work and how they themselves learn, while also coaching junior colleagues in techniques and strategies that align with our natural learning processes.",
  "summary": "Software engineering skill development requires slowing down. Generative AI has changed the landscape of skill development for software engineering. Tools and AI can accelerate outcomes, but they may not support skill development. Engineers must understand how systems work to learn things. Senior developers can coach juniors by using learning techniques. By Ben Linders",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}