If coding has been solved, why does software keep getting worse?(ptrchm.com)
765 points by pchm 1 day ago | 587 comments
tl;dr: Despite AI coding tools promising higher productivity and quality, everyday software (banking apps, car infotainment, warranty forms) keeps getting buggier and more fragile as complexity grows and vendors prioritize KPI-driven features over stability. The author argues LLMs could fix bugs effectively, but companies won't dedicate cycles to it—leaving an opening for individual developers to build better alternatives as big-company software accrues AI debt.
HN Discussion:
  • Non-technical decision-makers and imposters drive product changes, ignoring power users and quality
  • Misaligned incentives and KPI-chasing promotions cause software degradation, not AI itself
  • Coding is far from solved; the premise of AI having solved coding is flawed
  • ~Software quality issues predate AI and stem from market incentives and inexperienced developer growth
  • ~AI speeds up code production but doesn't improve correctness, which still requires human time