Notes · September 17, 2026
Shaping the build
Software engineering has never been just about implementing a spec. Researching the problem, asking questions, challenging assumptions, making technical and product decisions, working with users, and adjusting the direction based on feedback have always been an important part of how I work.
What feels different with AI is the speed. We can move much faster from an idea to a prototype, get feedback, learn, and iterate again. And that makes the ability to “shape the build” even more important.
I especially like the focus on ownership and measuring success by the value we create, not just the tasks we complete.
Great read — and I think especially useful for engineers early in their careers.
Written on DeepLearning.AI’s post about Andrew Ng’s letter on shaping the build.