If you go online, especially on social media, you would undoubtedly come across something about AI and software development. Everywhere there seems to be doom and disaster regarding jobs in the software industry.
Although it's largely a bit exaggerated, there is a kernel of truth in it. The fact is that AI tools like Claude Code can indeed code quickly and well. And if you zoom out, the process is actually the same as a lead developer delegating tasks to interns or juniors.
But unfortunately, AI writes five times better code and is ten times faster.
You would probably think: "Okay, why don't juniors just use Claude Code and make it part of their workflow?" They already do, but it doesn't go as smoothly as with high-intermediate and senior software developers.
There are countless reasons why this is the case (I'll write a separate article about this later), but there's one major reason...
Most developers are not good Architect Designers.
I deliberately say "most" here, because there is a small group that falls into this category. To be an Architect Designer at all, you must have fullstack knowledge and at least high-intermediate experience.
What is an Architect Designer?
During software development, you have to make countless choices. Many developers think their job is to determine what the code looks like, but that's the lowest level of decision-making.
The most important choices start with selecting the technology that best fits the project:
- Do we need backend code for this project?
- Which framework fits best?
- Is a database applicable here?
- Can't we simply use WordPress?
Those are the choices that have real impact on the project.
One level lower, you have questions about how to set up the folder structure and how to make the code dynamic and maintainable:
- Do you use inheritance to simplify API calls?
- Do you create a template for AI requests so it's consistent everywhere?
- Which elements should be centralized?
- How do you prevent technical debt in the long term?
These are questions you must answer yourself and not outsource to AI. An AI can write excellent code within a given structure, but determining that structure requires human insight, experience, and strategic thinking.
The paradox of AI resistance
Here we touch on an interesting phenomenon. Many developers who look down on AI coding tools are precisely those who have the most to fear.
The reason is painfully simple: the tasks these developers perform are objectively done better by AI. They write implementation code, follow instructions, and solve isolated problems — exactly where AI excels.
These developers are replaceable. Not because they're bad at what they do, but because they're stuck at a level where AI can match or surpass them.
Meanwhile, the best developers fully embrace AI tools. They don't see it as a threat, but as a force multiplier. They spend their energy on what AI cannot (yet) do: making strategic choices, understanding business requirements, and designing systems that last for years.
How do you become a better Architect Designer?
The good news: Architect Design is a skill you can develop. Here are concrete steps:
1. Build complete projects from scratch
Stop only adding features to existing codebases. Start projects from zero and force yourself to make every architectural decision consciously. Why do you choose this database? Why this folder structure?
2. Learn from existing architectures
Study open-source projects that are well-built. Look not only at the code, but at the structure. Why did they make certain choices? What trade-offs are there?
3. Think in systems, not functions
Train yourself to ask for every feature: "How does this fit into the bigger picture?" and "What are the long-term consequences of this choice?"
4. Use AI as a sparring partner
Ironically, AI can help you become a better architect. Ask Claude for feedback on your architectural decisions. Have it suggest alternatives and explain why you make certain choices.
5. Make mistakes and learn from them
The best way to learn which architecture works is by experiencing which doesn't work. Build something, run into limitations, and remember those lessons.
Conclusion
The future of software development is not AI versus human. It's AI and human, where the human fulfills the role of architect and strategist.
The developers who thrive in this new era are not necessarily the best coders. They are those who can determine what needs to be built and how the puzzle pieces fit together. They use AI as an extension of their capabilities, not as a replacement.
The question you must ask yourself is not: "Can AI do my work?" But: "Do I do work that only I can do?"
If the answer is "no," then it's time to invest in Architect Design skills. Not because AI is going to take your job, but because you can deliver so much more value when you operate at a higher level.
The choice is yours.
