So, you have just finished your coding bootcamp, earned your degree, or built your first app through vibe coding. Now you think you are ready to conquer the software engineering world.
AI has transformed software development. Building apps is easier than ever, in fact, I ask AI to write most of my code now, and only slightly take a look at the editor. However, my journey was not straightforward. Fresh out of college with a Computer Engineering degree, I expected to change the world. Reality hit hard, I was starting from zero. The landscape today is definitely vastly different from when I began.
The 2026 Reality Check
The software engineering landscape in 2026 is not what it was when I broke into the industry.
Back in my day, if you knew your data structures, could build a CRUD app, and did not freeze during interviews, you would land a job. Today? AI tools like Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor write boilerplate faster than you can type. Some companies use AI to do the work of junior developers. The numbers don't lie:
- Software developer employment for ages 22-25 declined nearly 20% by July 2025 (Stanford Digital Economy Study)
- 54% of engineering leaders plan to hire fewer juniors due to AI-driven efficiencies
- AI tools have compressed the skill gap between junior and senior developers for routine tasks to almost nothing
Scary, right?
Here is the good news: Software engineering jobs are still growing. AI is transforming the role, not eliminating it. The developers who will thrive in 2026 and beyond are those who:
- Know the fundamentals deeply — Data structures, algorithms, system design, database normalization. Stuff AI can generate but can't teach you to understand.
- Master AI tools — Learn to collaborate with Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, validate their outputs, and integrate into your workflow.
- Think critically — AI writes code. You decide what to build, why it matters, and whether the output is correct.
The harsh truth? AI will never replace a developer who knows the fundamentals AND know how to utilize AI to their advantage.
Why This Blog Exists
I started this blog to document my journey as a software developer. Today, I am updating it for a new era.
Here is where I am now:
- 5+ years writing code — Started with Spring Boot and Angular at NCS. I was also recruited through LinkedIn to teach a part-time web developer course at Le Wagon Singapore
- Built products at scale — From my days at Glints to now
- Currently at NUH Clinical Innovation Office — Working on AI products for healthcare, day and night
This blog is my attempt to give back. I write from three perspectives:
- The practitioner — Building real products used by real people
- The instructor — Seeing where students or employees struggled and what actually works
- The 2026 developer — Navigating AI tools while staying grounded in fundamentals
What to Expect
No fixed series. No rigid schedule. Just random topics that I think matter:
- Foundational concepts — Scrum, database design, user stories. The stuff that never goes out of style.
- AI-augmented workflows — How I use Claude Code, Codex, Cursor without becoming dependent on them.
- Real-world insights — From building products, leading teams, and teaching developers.
- Career navigation — How to position yourself in a market that's tougher for juniors but full of opportunity for those who prepare.
Some posts will be technical. Some will be philosophical. All of them will be honest.
A Note on AI Tools
Let me be crystal clear: I use AI tools every day. Claude Code sits in my terminal, along side Alibaba's coding plan. But here's how I use them:
- Not to skip thinking — I design the architecture, AI helps me implement.
- Not to avoid learning — When AI generates code I don't understand, I make it explain until I do.
- Not as a crutch — I can still build without AI (thought it will be a lot slower). That is what makes me valuable with it.
Your goal should be the same. Learn the fundamentals until they are muscle memory. Then use AI to amplify your output, not replace your brain.
Let's Begin
If you are interested in the world of software in 2026, you are facing a tougher market than I did. But you also have tools I wish I had. The combination of deep fundamentals + smart AI use is your unfair advantage.
This blog will help you build both.
Welcome to the journey.