There are creators and coders amongst developers. And while there is a little bit of a coder in every creator, and a little bit of a creator in every coder, they are different.
A creator wants to create something. Coding is a tool for them to create. When I teached myself coding in a department store nearly 45 years ago, the reason was I wanted to write video games (and I did). Today I still enjoy coding, the intricacies of the code, the challenges of the code, the architecture, the clockwork, I love it. But it’s still a tool, and while I like the tool, I want to create something.
A coder is about the code. He doesn’t see programming or source code as a tool to create something, but an end in itself. He is not interested in the creation, he is interested in the code.
During my four decades in the industry I have always seen and influx of creators followed by an influx of coders. In the 1980s, home computers put a computer on every desk, inside homes and in companies. Creators used those new tools to create something. Today we would call them makers.
They coded VisiCalc and Lotus 1-2-3, they coded Uridium, The Sentinel,Elite and Apple Writer. Creators were everywhere. They were drawn to computers to create. When there was a job market, coders came. Not every coder is in it for the job, but many are.
The same happened with mobile apps. Creators were drawn to mobile apps to create. When there was a job market, coders came. Again with Steam, indy creators created games.
The same is happening with #AI. AI is democratizing creation. You no longer need to be a coder to create software. You can do so with an AI, with Claude Code or Codex or Copilot. And this time will be different - at least for coders.
Creators will flourish but there won’t be an influx of new coders as has happened in the past.
About me: Hey, I'm Stephan, a CTO Coach with 40+ years of software development and 25+ years of engineering management experience. I've coached and mentored 80+ CTOs and founders. I've founded 3 startups. 1 nice exit. I help CTOs and engineering leaders grow, scale their teams, gain clarity, lead with confidence and navigate the challenges of fast-growing companies.
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