The Importance of Foundational Coding Skills in an AI Era

In this episode, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel tackle the hot topic of AI “replacing” developers and why that’s not happening any time soon. They discuss the right mindset for learning to code, tips for staying motivated (even if friends and family don’t get it), and what to focus on in your very first tech job. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the hype or needed clarity on how to progress in your coding journey, this episode is for you. Key Topics: Why just “prompting AI” isn’t enough—and how real coding skills still matter How to stay motivated when your family or friends don’t understand your new path The difference between hype and actual skills needed for a successful tech career Strategies for learning to code efficiently (and what to avoid) What to focus on in your first six months as a developer (the four key pillars) Enjoy the conversation, and let us know if you want a deeper dive in a Part 2! 📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business? Email us at dannyandleonpodcast@gmail.com! Danny Thompson https://x.com/DThompsonDev https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev www.DThompsonDev.com Leon Noel https://x.com/leonnoel https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/ https://100devs.org/ 📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business? Email us at dannyandleonpodcast@gmail.com! Chapters 00:00 – Intro & The 4 Things in Your First 6 Months Danny outlines the four key items you must focus on when starting your first dev role. 04:15 – How AI Hype Misleads New Developers They share why simply prompting AI tools isn’t a valid substitute for real coding logic. 11:05 – Overcoming Excuses & Bad Advice Learn why AI is the latest excuse stopping people from ever finishing their coding goals. 20:05 – Will AI Replace Devs in 5 Years? A realistic look at timelines, corporate adoption, and why coding skills remain essential. 25:00 – Setting the Stage for Learning Leon shares the mindset shifts you need for effective studying, plus dealing with life pressures. 35:00 – Build Projects to Truly Learn They stress how applying newly learned concepts in your own projects cements long-term knowledge. 49:00 – Part 2? They discuss whether to record a deeper follow-up; share your feedback in the comments. 50:30 – Ask Danny And Leon Danny breaks down code, process, team, and value—crucial focuses for your first six months. 57:40 – Relationship Building & Documentation Leon’s tips on never eating lunch alone, documenting questions, and setting review goals. 1:00:05 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up Closing remarks on staying motivated, focusing on evidence-based growth, and letting them know if you want more.