u/EmotionNegative2655

Maybe this is just me getting old, but lately I've been struggling with this.

I've been a developer for years. Not a "vibe coder." I actually learned the fundamentals, spent years debugging weird production issues, dealing with databases, architecture, performance problems, all that stuff.

Now I look around and it feels like none of that matters anymore.

People who couldn't build much on their own a year or two ago are suddenly shipping products every week because ai is doing most of the heavy lifting. And honestly, some of those products are pretty good.

So what exactly is skill now?

If someone can build a saas, deploy it, get users, fix bugs, and keep improving it with ai helping every step of the way, do I really get to say they're "not a real developer"?

Part of me thinks fundamentals still matter because eventually things break. Performance issues, security problems, scaling problems, weird edge cases. That's where experience still seems to show.

But another part of me wonders if I'm just coping.

Maybe knowing how to work with ai effectively is becoming more important than knowing how to write everything yourself.

Maybe the industry doesn't care how the code gets written as long as the product works.

I don't know.

It just feels like the line between junior, mid-level, and senior developer is getting blurrier every month.

Curious how other engineers see this.

Are fundamentals still the moat?

Or are we watching software engineering change in real time and some of us just haven't accepted it yet?

I’ve noticed that a lot of people claiming to hire freelancers or developers quickly ask to continue the conversation on Telegram.

My guess is:

• Telegram accounts are easier to create anonymously
• It’s harder to track/report scammers compared to LinkedIn or email
• They can avoid platform moderation
• Crypto/payment scams are common there
• Some people may simply prefer Telegram for international communication

Of course not everyone using Telegram is a scammer, but the pattern seems suspiciously common.

Has anyone else noticed this?

I’ve noticed that a lot of people claiming to hire freelancers or developers quickly ask to continue the conversation on Telegram.

My guess is:

• Telegram accounts are easier to create anonymously
• It’s harder to track/report scammers compared to LinkedIn or email
• They can avoid platform moderation
• Crypto/payment scams are common there
• Some people may simply prefer Telegram for international communication

Of course not everyone using Telegram is a scammer, but the pattern seems suspiciously common.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Hey guys,

I’m a full-stack dev offering Shopify setups, custom web apps, and native mobile apps (iOS/Android). I’ve been trying to scale up for a while now, but I’ve hit a complete brick wall with client acquisition and I'm losing my mind a bit.

Here’s what I’ve already tried:

• Upwork & Fiverr: Racing to the bottom on price, full of low-quality leads.
• Cold Outreach: Did LinkedIn outreach and cold emailing, but the response rate is basically zero.
• Local Businesses: Tried pitching locally, but nobody seems to have the budget.
• Commission-based Sales: I even offered up to 40% commission to sales reps just to get someone through the door, but still nothing.

At this point, I feel like my only option left is just praying to the tech gods lol.

I've heard that bigger agencies or established freelancers sometimes offload smaller projects they don't have time for. Does anyone have tips on how to actually connect with them without being annoying?

More importantly, what is actually working for you guys to get consistent, high-paying clients this year? Any advice or reality checks would be massively appreciated.