Reading list

Articles

Short pieces on dependency, ownership, and coding without AI. Then the test.

• Break the habit

  How to Quit Vibe Coding

  3 min read

  How to stop relying on AI for coding — a structured way to break AI coding dependency without deleting your tools.

• Self-check

  Is AI Coding a Tool or a Crutch?

  8 min read

  Score your AI coding habits in 8 A–D questions. Healthy use vs skill atrophy, anxiety without tools, and a plan if you land in the C or D range.

• Research

  MIT Study: The Cognitive Dulling of Heavy AI Use

  4 min read

  MIT Media Lab measured brain activity in people writing with ChatGPT vs. unaided. The results, and what they actually do (and don't) prove.

• Juniors

  Junior Developers and AI Dependency

  4 min read

  For junior developers worried AI is doing too much of the thinking — why this stage is genuinely riskier, and what to do about it early.

• Research

  Is AI Making Developers Worse?

  3 min read

  Does AI hurt coding skills? Two 2025-2026 studies measured what AI coding tools actually do to developer skill and speed — the results are more specific and more uncomfortable than a simple yes or no.

• Challenge

  The AI Coding Detox Challenge

  3 min read

  A self-guided AI coding detox — no signup, no $12, just the structure. For developers who want to try this before committing to anything.

• Recovery

  Recovering Coding Skills After AI

  3 min read

  If you already suspect you've lost ground, not just formed a habit — here's how skill recovery actually works, and how long it realistically takes.

• Aftermath

  I Vibe-Coded My Project. Now What?

  4 min read

  You have a working app you don't fully understand. Here's how to make it safe to keep building on, without rewriting everything from scratch.