How to Develop Software Engineering Skills in the Age of AI
InfoQ, Thursday, October 1st, 2026
Chelsea Troy argues building engineering skill requires slowing down, even when AI tools speed up outcomes.
Summarizing Chelsea Troy's Craft conference talk, InfoQ explains her distinction between figuring things out and getting things done, arguing that AI and other tools accelerate outcomes but often do not build skill, because learning is inefficient by design and requires sitting with confusion and frustration.
Engineers still need to understand how the systems they modify work.
Troy points to spaced repetition, focused attention and sleep as the essentials of skill building, and suggests senior developers coach juniors by spreading learning over time.