A veteran software consultant reflects on how AI is reshaping the software development industry, drawing parallels to the era of DIY systems built in Microsoft Access and FileMaker Pro. The author argues that codebases don't care how they were written — only whether they work and can be maintained — and challenges developers who resist AI adoption to reckon honestly with the shifting economics. He shares his own journey from skeptic to reluctant adopter, wrestles with the ethical tensions around AI and open source, and suggests that those who thrive will be the ones who understand why clients want to build things themselves and can articulate what comes next, rather than resenting the disruption.
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