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The Death of Flow? How AI Changed Programming — and How to Get Joy Back
Books by Sandor Dargo
Sandor Dargo
On Day 1 at 17:15 (CET/Berlin) in Track E [Bernstein Room and online]
AI is rapidly changing how we write software. We type less, prompt more, and spend increasing amounts of time reviewing code instead of creating it. Productivity may be up — but something else feels off.
Many of us, developers, are sadly experiencing it: the loss of flow, reduced sense of ownership, and the unsettling numb feeling that the craft we fell in love with is slipping away.
But what if we're looking for joy in the wrong place?
In this talk, we'll explore how AI is reshaping the day-to-day experience of programming — not just what we build, but how it feels to build it. We'll revisit what made programming fulfilling in the first place: solving problems, reducing complexity, and exercising judgment.
From there, we'll develop a new mental model of programming in the AI era — one where typing matters less, but clarity, taste, and decision-making matter more than ever.
You'll walk away with:
- A deeper understanding of why modern development can feel more tiring despite higher productivity
- A reframing of programming as a craft that goes beyond code generation
- Practical techniques to regain flow, strengthen your judgment, and find joy again in your work
AI hasn't taken away the craft of programming — but it clearly it changed its shape. The opportunity for mastery is still there. The question is: are we willing to adapt how we pursue it?
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