# There's more to software development than coding

DevFeed: [There's more to software development than coding](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/there-s-more-to-software-development-than-coding-38400.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.danlew.net/2026/08/17/theres-more-to-software-development-than-coding/>)

Author: Dan Lew

Published: 2026-08-17T16:38:20Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Dan Lew Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/dan-lew-blog.md>)

Topics: [Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/development.md>), [coding](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/coding.md>), [Artificial Intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai.md>), [AI Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai-development.md>), [Software Engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software-engineering.md>)

Tags: [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [career](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/career.md>), [developer](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developer.md>), [developers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developers.md>), [development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/development.md>), [engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering.md>), [engineering-manager](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering-manager.md>), [like](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/like.md>), [manager](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/manager.md>), [product](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/product.md>), [quality-assurance](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/quality-assurance.md>), [software-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software-development.md>)

## AI overview

This opinion article argues that software development involves much more than writing code. It describes requirements refinement, design and logic review, communication, tradeoff discussions, architecture, project coordination, mentoring, and cross-functional work as important parts of the role. It concludes that these non-coding skills may remain valuable as AI improves at coding.

## Source excerpt

Like many software developers, I've been considering the future of my profession in the face of AI. AI can write code. Our job is to write code. It seems natural that we'd be replaced by AI, no? But recently I've been considering the warning