Mentality

  1. We solve our customers' problems with our product, and the product is not writing code
    1. https://open.substack.com/pub/thoughtos/p/2026-coding-is-dead-learn-to-let?r=39zhgt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
    2. Our customers rely on our product to get a job done. They don't care how it's made, only that it works, is reliable, and is effective.
    3. Ship quickly: as a startup, speed is our greatest asset
    4. https://simonwillison.net/2025/Dec/18/code-proven-to-work/
  2. Do not outsource thinking, amplify it
    1. AI tools are amplifications not replacements for thought and execution
    2. AI tooling is a 1st class tool in day to day development - know your tool of choice back to front.
  3. Rethink the systems we take for granted
    1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u94juYwLLM - This talk is directed at designers and how AI is changing their day to day, but it is just as applicable to engineering.
  4. Software engineers are now Product Engineers
    1. The venn diagram of product manager and SWE is becoming a circle. Get comfortable thinking like a product manager.
  5. Your security posture needs to adapt
    1. Whole classes of new security issues have cropped up with AI written code and attackers are adapting
    2. Supply chain attacks are everywhere. Dependencies/services/extensions across the stack, development env, and browser should be assumed hostile and should only be added with extreme vetting
    3. All versions of dependencies need to be pinned to specific versions
    4. Be deeply paranoid across the board

Resources

Primers

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Pieces to get you thinking

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