A call to action - Become A-shaped
Software engineering is changing fast. Are you keeping up — or falling behind?
We’re standing at a defining moment in tech. The emergence of intelligent coding agents — tools that can reason, plan, and write large portions of code — is reshaping how we build software.
To thrive in this new paradigm, engineers must evolve. It’s no longer enough to just "write code." We need to think bigger and earlier — and we need to work smarter, not harder.
It’s time to become A-shaped.
What Does “A-Shaped” Mean?
Forget the old models. The "T-shaped" engineer (deep in one skill, broad in others) is outdated. The "A" represents two things today's engineers must master:
- AI-shaped: Able to leverage agent-based coding tools, collaborate with autonomous development assistants, and orchestrate complex workflows through AI.
- All-round: Grounded in product thinking, cross-functional communication, and the broader software lifecycle — from first requirements sketch to delivery and iteration.
This is not just a new toolset. It’s a new mindset.
From Coding to Coaching: The Rise of Agent-Based Development
The days of line-by-line coding are giving way to a new role for engineers: not just writing code, but guiding AI agents to write, refactor, and test code at scale.
These tools — like GPT-based agents, AutoDev, or task-driven copilots — aren’t here to replace you. They’re here to multiply you. But only if you know how to use them effectively.
Shift Left, Stay Ahead
Agent-based tools are only as good as the instructions they’re given. That means the value of early-phase thinking — architecture, design, and clear requirements — has never been higher.
A-shaped engineers don’t just write the code; they define what should be built and why — up front.
Shift-left thinking means:
- Engaging early in requirement gathering and product discussions
- Creating robust, testable design specs
- Modeling the system design before implementation begins
- Writing workflows and prompts that agents can reason about
The earlier you think, the better AI can act.
A New Kind of Engineer for a New Kind of Era
This is a call to action.
If you're still thinking about your job as “writing code,” you’re already behind. The role of the software engineer is expanding — upstream, downstream, and outward. The best engineers today are system thinkers, agent collaborators, and design-first strategists. At the end of 2026 software engineers who are not evolved are out of a job.
Don’t be the bottleneck. Be the multiplier.
Be A-shaped.
Lead the conversation before the first line of code is written. Shape the intent, guide the agents, and build the future.
Because the next generation of tools isn’t just faster. They’re smarter.
And so must you be.