The author reflects on the diminishing opportunities for deep, prolonged thinking in a software engineering environment increasingly dominated by AI tools. While the rapid pace of building satisfies the pragmatic side, it leaves the need for intellectual challenge unfulfilled. The piece explores the tension between the desire to create and the longing for meaningful problem-solving.

The article explores the distinction between software engineering and computer science, arguing that the relationship between vision and engineering in software development is bidirectional and intertwined. It emphasizes the importance of deep understanding of tools and technologies in fostering creativity and quality in software output, cautioning against viewing abstraction layers as black boxes that can stifle innovation.