Why Agentic Software is the Future of Coding

The days of hammering out line after line of code might be fading into the rearview. Today's software engineers are shifting gears. They're becoming directors of AI agents instead. This isn't just a trend. It's a transformation, and the evidence is stacking up.

The Big Shift

Automation is taking the wheel. Anthropic's Economic Index shows a stunning 79% of Claude Code interactions are driven by automation. That's not a blip. It's a tidal wave. Meanwhile, research by Handa and others reveals that AI exposure in computer programming roles is around 75%. That's a huge chunk of the job.

And the job market's feeling it too. At Stanford's Digital Economy Lab, Brynjolfsson and his team report a 13% drop in employment for young workers, ages 22 to 25, in roles most exposed to AI. This isn't just a bump in the road. It's a full-on detour.

Education Must Catch Up

But the shift is far from over. The missing piece? Not better AI models, but the discipline of agentic software engineering. Enter ASE-26, a curriculum designed to fill that gap. It's a structured undergraduate program that lays out what practitioners need to know. Forget waiting for technology to evolve. This curriculum is about evolving with it.

ASE-26 doesn't just skim the surface. It's got a twenty-one-module structure, diving deep into the co-evolution of intent and build. It also tackles grading work co-produced with AI, preparing students to thrive no matter how today's models change.

Closing the Skills Gap

The real scandal? We don't have enough skilled practitioners, and that's exactly what this new discipline aims to fix. The ASE-26 curriculum is positioned as the primary tool to close the skills gap. It's not just about keeping pace with AI. It's about getting ahead.

So, why should you care? Because if you're in tech and not learning how to guide AI, you're already playing catch-up. If you're an educator, it's time to question your syllabus. Are you preparing your students for yesterday's coding or tomorrow's directing? Solana doesn't wait for permission, and neither should you.