In a post-AI world, "good enough" is obsolete. Here's what that means.
What I've Noticed
Here's something uncomfortable.
In a post-AI world, being "good enough" is not enough.
"Good enough" = obsolete.
You must be exceptional.
Let me explain why.
The Bar Has Moved
Five years ago, a "100x developer" was:
- Fast coder
- Knew multiple languages
- Understood systems
- Could architect solutions
Today, that's the baseline.
Why?
Because AI can do all of that.
The new exceptional developer:
- Doesn't just code. Architects.
- Doesn't just implement. Directs AI.
- Doesn't just build. Optimizes entire systems.
The gap:
Old "good developer":
- Knows Python syntax
- Can build a REST API
- Knows SQL basics
→ 100% replaceable by AI today
New "exceptional developer":
- Architectural thinking
- AI literacy (directs AI agents)
- Deep technical understanding
- Business understanding
- Communication skills
→ AI struggles. Humans essential.The problem:
Most education teaches you to be a "good developer" (circa 2019).
In 2026, good developers are obsolete.
Only exceptional developers matter.
What "Exceptional" Actually Means
I've been thinking about this a lot.
Here's what exceptional means today:
Technical Mastery:
Not just "I know Python."
But "I understand:
- When to use async vs sync (and the trade-offs)
- How to optimize database queries
- How to design scalable APIs
- How to debug production issues
- How to secure systems
- How to architect for scale"
AI Literacy:
Not just "I use ChatGPT sometimes."
But "I understand:
- How to direct AI agents to build features
- When to use AI vs traditional code
- How to evaluate AI output quality
- How to iterate with AI efficiently"
Architectural Thinking:
Not just "I can implement a feature."
But "I understand:
- Trade-offs between approaches
- Long-term consequences of decisions
- How to design for scalability
- How to balance speed vs quality vs maintainability"
Business Understanding:
Not just "I build what I'm told."
But "I understand":
- What features actually matter
- How to prioritize for impact
- How to communicate trade-offs
- How to align tech with business goals"
What I Can Do Today
This isn't theoretical.
This isn't "someday."
This is happening NOW.
Today's capabilities:
150 commits per day. Real commits. Real features.
5 projects simultaneously. Context switching between all of them.
Building frameworks alone (what used to take a team of 10).
Shipping products in days, not months.
The difference:
```
Before AI (2019):
- 5-10 commits per day
- 1-2 projects max
- Need a team for anything complex
With AI (2026):
- 150+ commits per day
- 5+ projects simultaneously
- Solo = Team of 10
```
15× more productive.
And I'm just getting started.
The Gap Is Growing
Here's what most people don't understand.
The gap between good and exceptional is increasing.
Not shrinking.
```
2019:
- Good developer: 10 commits/day
- Exceptional: 50 commits/day
- Gap: 5×
2026:
- Good with AI: 50 commits/day
- Exceptional with AI: 150 commits/day
- Gap: 3×
2028:
- Good with AI: 100 commits/day
- Exceptional with AI: 1,000 commits/day
- Gap: 10×
```
What this means:
In 2019, being "good" was fine.
In 2026, being "good" gets you replaced by AI.
In 2030, being "good" means you're unemployed.
Only exceptional developers thrive.
I'm Living This
This isn't theory.
This is my reality.
What I've built solo (with AI):
- deesseJS - Full-stack framework (what used to take a team)
- Multiple SaaS products - In parallel
- This content strategy - Articles, social media
All simultaneously. All with quality. All shipping fast.
The proof:
I'm not just talking about AI-augmented development.
I'm living it.
Every single day.
The 5-10% Reality
Here's what blows my mind.
Everything I just told you? 150 commits/day. Multiple projects. Frameworks alone.
I'm operating at 5-10% of my true potential.
Why only 5-10%?
I have a full-time job. I can't dedicate 100% of my time to building.
I'm manually orchestrating AI agents. I don't have enough agents working in parallel yet.
I'm building tools while using them. Everything is fragmented.
With the right setup:
Full-time dedication. More agents. Better tools.
1,500 commits/day is possible.
This sounds insane.
But 150 commits/day sounded insane in 2019.
Now it's my normal.
The Timeline
I don't have a crystal ball.
But here's what I think happens:
2026:
Exceptional developers are rare. AI-augmented development is competitive advantage.
2027-2028:
Exceptional developers are the new normal. AI-augmented development is required.
2030+:
Exceptional developers are baseline. AI-native development is assumed.
The window is closing.
Not in 10 years.
In 2-3 years.
The Bottom Line
The gap between good and exceptional is increasing.
Not shrinking.
What this means:
In 2019, being "good" was fine.
In 2026, being "good" gets you replaced by AI.
In 2030, being "good" means you're unemployed.
Only exceptional developers thrive.
I don't have all the answers. I might be wrong about some of this.
But I believe the window is closing.
The question is:
Are you going to be exceptional?
Or obsolete?