Philipp Mainländer expresses a longing for the deep, prolonged thinking that he feels has diminished in his life due to the rise of AI in software development. He identifies himself as both a Builder, who thrives on creating practical solutions quickly, and a Thinker, who finds satisfaction in wrestling with complex problems over extended periods. In his university days studying physics, he noticed three types of students when faced with difficult homework: those who gave up quickly, those who sought external help, and those like him who engaged deeply with the problem. He found joy in that intellectual struggle, believing it was his superpower. Mainländer contrasts his initial fulfillment in software engineering with his current experience, where the convenience of "vibe coding"—quickly deploying solutions with AI assistance—has left him feeling stagnant. While he acknowledges that this method satisfies the Builder in him, it leaves the Thinker deprived. He grapples with the tension between pragmatism and the need for intellectual challenge, recognizing that quick solutions often lack the depth required for true growth. Despite his efforts to rekindle that mental engagement outside of coding, such as revisiting physics, he struggles to justify the time spent on problems that don't contribute to immediate productivity. The article paints a picture of a professional caught between the satisfaction of productivity and the hunger for intellectual rigor, unsure of how to reconcile the two.