The rise of abandonware

The barrier to shipping software has collapsed. With AI code generation, any fleeting idea can become a reality almost instantly.

But there’s a catch: software that is created fast is often abandoned fast.

We are seeing a surge of "disposable software." We’re guilty of it too. While the cycle of "shiny object syndrome" has always existed in tech, AI has put it on steroids. We can now create entire repositories in an afternoon, only to realize a week later we have no desire to maintain them.

This creates a new landscape of risk. When you choose a library for your stack or a new tool for your workflow, you aren't just betting on the code, you’re betting on the people.

Code is now cheap and ephemeral. The only true constant is the team behind it. Before you depend on a new project, don't just look at the features; look at the track record of the maintainers.

In the age of AI, the code comes and goes. Make sure the humans are staying.