I'm Still Figuring This Out

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:17:08 +0000

I've been building software for over 40 years, and the AI era has introduced me to an entirely new experience of building.

A few years ago, I was burned out on technology. I had seriously considered changing careers. I'd even obtained my life insurance license.

Today, I'm building software for myself again, and I'm enjoying it.

AI has been instrumental in that change.

The ability to move from an idea to working software in a relatively short amount of time, without personally carrying so much of the implementation burden, has been liberating.

It reminded me that what I love about software engineering extends well beyond writing code.

I love creating things. I love solving problems. I love taking something that exists in my imagination and making it work.

Of course, faster implementation doesn't eliminate the need for engineering judgment. Architecture, reliability, testing, evaluation, and understanding what we're building still matter.

Those concerns are actually part of what I'm exploring through my work with agentic engineering.

I'm developing practices, testing assumptions, discovering problems, and adjusting how I approach software construction.

And increasingly, I'm doing that work in public.

That's another relatively new experience for me.

After decades of concentrating on doing the work, I've had to recognize that the knowledge, experiences, and perspectives developed along the way might be valuable to other builders.

I've also become more comfortable sharing my technical voice.

That matters to me personally because I'm committed to amplifying Black excellence in technology through NotableBIT, the BIT Voices Podcast, and the BitVoices Network.

Amplifying Black builders also means recognizing the value of my own experiences as one of those builders.

I'm still experimenting. Still learning. Still evaluating what works and what doesn't.

But I'm also enjoying building again.

After 40-plus years, there's still plenty to discover. 😎

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I'm Still Figuring This Out