LLMs Took Everything From Me: A Low-Level Coder's Lament
Grieving the Loss of Details
A self-described low-level coder reflects on how the rise of LLMs has eroded the value of deep technical expertise, performance optimization, and understanding the machine. Once proud of knowing intricacies and writing assembly, they now see the industry prioritizing abstractions and AI assistance, leaving them feeling obsolete and considering disability. They refuse to use LLMs for meaningful work, mourning the loss of a field that once respected detail-oriented craft.
Over the course of a year, I went from having a planned future to worrying about applying for disability.