5 years of Node.js experience is worth 6 months now.

AI broke the barrier to syntax.

Pre-AI era:

→ Stack switch: months → Primary skill: syntax and library mastery → Hiring for: 5 years in a specific language → Stack: web, mobile, backend → Junior role: writing boilerplate

AI era:

→ Stack switch: hours → Primary skill: system design and orchestration → Hiring for: ability to ship and debug complexity → Stack: LLMs, RAG, agents, vector DBs → Junior role: fighting for relevance

You used to prove value by writing code. Now you prove it by knowing which code not to write.

The stack moved up a layer. From languages to capabilities.

You catch AI-hallucinated bugs when you master fundamentals.

Adaptable engineers got a force multiplier. Conservatives are in for a very difficult decade.

Master the layer that matters now.