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The rumored rise of AI. A stagnant hiring market. The long shadow of industry layoffs. It seems like there's always a threat (or three) on the horizon, and even the bravest of us would be forgiven for feeling some apprehension about the future. So, what's a Rubyist to think? What's a Rubyist to do? While I don't have any guarantees, I do have a couple ideas. ___________________________________________________________________________ Jeremy is a product-focused Rails developer running HYBRD, a one-person web studio. He has been working in Ruby for the past 15 years. He co-hosts the IndieRails podcast and is the founder and previous organizer for Blue Ridge Ruby.
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In 'A Rubyist's Guide to Existential Dread', Jeremy Smith addresses the growing anxieties within the Ruby community regarding various threats facing developers, particularly around the rise of AI and a stagnant job market. He presents a heartfelt exploration of the fear of loss related to three significant aspects: craft, livelihood, and community. Smith discusses his personal journey from a passionate teen tinkering with HTML to a seasoned Rails developer and reflects on the importance of recognizing the good amidst uncertainties. The key points of his talk include: - **Acknowledge Your Feelings**: Smith starts by urging the audience not to panic amid the looming threats. Drawing from personal experiences, he emphasizes the importance of staying calm and recognizing that challenges are part of life. - **Cherish What You Have**: He encourages valuing the opportunities and community present in the Ruby ecosystem, recognizing the luck involved in being able to work on something one loves. - **Create Space**: Highlighting the necessity of fostering community, Jeremy showcases Rubyists who are successfully facilitating connections and support networks for developers. - **Get Tedious**: He talks about the value of dedicating oneself to seemingly mundane tasks that ultimately lead to significant contributions within the community, using examples of developers who have committed to smaller, focused projects. - **Sell Your Work**: Finally, Jeremy stresses the importance of marketing and communication for developers, giving examples of successful initiatives that have helped promote Ruby and Rails effectively. Jeremy concludes with a powerful message: rather than becoming paralyzed by fear of the future, Rubyists should focus on improving the present, both for themselves and their community. This approach can lead to proactive solutions, creativity, and resilience against external challenges.
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