In the wake of the AI wave, Salesforce recently revealed that its internal tool, Agentforce, has contributed to the generation of 20% of its APEX code. This news has sparked widespread industry discussion about the future role of developers. In contrast to some experts' predictions of programmers being replaced, Salesforce developers are evolving into more strategic roles.
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, licensed through Midjourney.
The Transformation of the Developer Role
Jayesh Govindarajan, Salesforce's Senior Vice President of AI, points out that while AI can write a significant amount of code, the developer's job has fundamentally changed. "Developers are no longer just writing code; they need to think: What should we build? What does the customer truly want?" This makes the developer's work more creative and strategic.
This change can be compared to other technological advancements. For example, when calculators replaced manual calculations, mathematicians didn't disappear; they moved on to solving more complex problems. Salesforce believes that the addition of AI will similarly give developers more time and space in software development.
"Vibe Coding" and Efficient Iteration
Today, developers are embracing the concept of "vibe coding," which involves giving AI high-level instructions instead of line-by-line commands to generate initial code. "You just provide a general direction and let the AI unleash its creativity to generate a first draft," Govindarajan explains. This approach allows developers to quickly obtain workable prototypes and iterate based on customer feedback.
This innovative coding method enables developers to bring ideas to life faster, thus improving customer experience and satisfaction.
New Quality Control Requirements
With the rise of AI-generated code, Salesforce also recognizes the need for new quality control measures. They have developed the Agentforce Testing Center to address the unique nature of machine-generated code. Govindarajan notes: "These systems are stochastic; failures can occur at different stages and must be validated through appropriate testing tools."
Developers need to master boundary testing and security setup techniques to ensure code quality and reliability.
Intelligent Software Development Lifecycle
Beyond initial coding, AI is transforming the entire software development lifecycle. Govindarajan emphasizes that AI tools can intelligently extend existing code, accelerating the build, test, and iteration processes. This comprehensive automation creates a "tighter loop," allowing developers to achieve more in less time.
Computer Science Fundamentals Remain Important
