I am seeing powerful hope growing in the next generation of software engineers.
My web development students at Eastern Washington University are absolutely crushing it.
After a successful foray into AI by building Wordle from scratch, I gave them a new challenge: create any web app they want, as long as it doesn’t already exist on the internet. The goal was simple: force AI out of autocomplete mode and require students to guide it with clear intent, creativity, and engineering thinking.
The results have been remarkable.
Last week, we reviewed their initial designs as a class. The feedback was fast, candid, and collaborative. It felt like a real software team iterating, defending choices, and refining ideas.
Students paired up at the whiteboards to design the technical architecture for a dog-walking business. They interpreted requirements, asked clarifying questions, and wrestled with functionality. It was the kind of engineering work I used to struggle to make room for because I was so focused on syntax.
Then we all circled around as the students collectively mapped out the data model for a salon website, which we will build into a full-fledged app.
Now, they’re doing the real thing.
And they’re energized. They’re engaging with each other, wrestling with complex ideas, and building with confidence.
I asked them how this experiment with AI made them feel. I offered options like fearful, weak, or powerful. Every student chose powerful. I can see it in their eyes. They are excited and spending far more time on assignments than I expected. They’re discovering what it feels like to bring ideas to life with almost no friction. Instead of getting bogged down in the minutiae of code, they’re experiencing the joy of the art and science of engineering.
Maybe this is a fool’s errand. Maybe it’s the future. Time will tell.
But right now, the early signs are promising, even powerful—not just for software, but for the hope and vision I’m seeing in the next generation. A hope that is grounded not only in vision, but also in skills.
Designing AI systems you can rely on
If you are exploring how to use large language models in real software, IntelliTect helps you turn clear intent into reliable, production-ready systems.