The next two years of software engineering will be the last two years of software engineering (probably).
Last year was, as it seems, just a normal year in terms of global software output.
But on product hunt, the amount of projects is First week of Jan: 5000+, Entire Jan 2018: 4000 approx.
Has the output of existing companies/products increased substantially?
Have more products proven successful and started companies?
hard to say but maybe a little
Would be impossible to tell.
Not to mention agent capabilities at the end of last year were vastly different to those at the start of the year.
Even if LLMs became better during the year, you'd still expect an increase in releases.
Look at smaller SaaS offerings and people selling tiny utility apps, those will go away slowly.
Why would I pay for something when I can make it for my own (or company internal) use in an afternoon?
Talk is cheap, let's see the money :D
Exactly my thoughts lately ... Even by yesterday's standards it was already very difficult to land a job and, by tomorrow's standards, it appears as if only the very best of the best will be able to keep their jobs and the ones in a position of decision making power.