💡 5 LESSONS EVERY DEVELOPER SHOULD LEARN FROM THE AI AGENT ERA

Hi, PapaFam! ☀️

It is no longer news that FABLE, which was recently released, has been shut down for reasons best known to its creators.

shout-out to Sonny and every other dev who play with it before it remove

However, this post is not really about FABLE.

It is about the lessons many of us have learned from following the AI Agent Series Sonny started and watching how software development is gradually evolving before our eyes.

First, a special shout-out to our great teacher and the entire team Sonny and Jay who continue to lead from the front, helping us understand what these new AI models can truly do. Through every episode of the series, we have seen ideas transformed into real applications faster than many of us thought possible.

At this point, we are no longer surprised that AI can write code.

The bigger question is:

HOW DO WE POSITION OURSELVES AS DEVELOPERS IN THE AGE OF AI?

After following every episode of the AI Agent Series, here are five lessons that stood out to me that we can learn from SONNY.

1. INSTALL YOUR DEPENDENCIES AND PACKAGES YOURSELF

One thing I have noticed repeatedly is that AI does not always recommend the latest packages, versions, or installation methods.

Sometimes it suggests outdated dependencies, deprecated libraries, or approaches that are no longer considered best practice.

As developers, we should always verify package versions, check official documentation, and understand exactly what we are installing before adding it to our projects.

sonny preach the above a lot the OG should know by now

AI CAN ASSIST YOU, BUT IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE YOUR PROJECT IS BUILT ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION.

2. INSTALL ALL THE SKILLS AND PLUGINS REQUIRED FOR YOUR PROJECT

An AI agent is only as effective as the tools available to it.

Whether it is APIs, MCP servers, SDKs, plugins, databases, or external integrations, the quality of your output often depends on the tools connected to your workflow.

Many times, the limitation is not the model itself but the lack of the right tools needed to accomplish the task.

GIVE YOUR AGENT THE RIGHT TOOLS, AND YOU WILL BE SURPRISED BY WHAT IT CAN ACHIEVE.

3. USE THE BEST MODEL YOU CAN AFFORD TO PLAN YOUR FEATURES

One lesson that became very clear throughout the series is that planning matters.

Before writing code, before creating components, before setting up databases, you need a clear plan.

The quality of that planning is often influenced by the quality of the model you are using.

A stronger model can help you break down complex features, identify edge cases, suggest better architectures, and think through implementation details before you start building.

GOOD PLANNING SAVES TIME.

GOOD PLANNING REDUCES MISTAKES.

GOOD PLANNING PREVENTS UNNECESSARY REWRITES.

If possible, use the best model you can afford when designing and planning features because a well-planned project is usually easier to build than a poorly planned one.

4. ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS WHEN YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND

One of the greatest advantages of AI is that it can explain its own code.

Whenever you encounter something you do not understand, ask questions.

Ask why.

Ask how.

Ask for alternatives.

Ask for examples.

Ask for simpler explanations.

The developers who grow the fastest are not necessarily the ones who know everything; they are the ones who are curious enough to keep asking questions.

THE QUALITY OF YOUR QUESTIONS OFTEN DETERMINES THE QUALITY OF YOUR GROWTH.

5. KNOW YOUR FUNDAMENTALS REGARDLESS OF THE AI TOOL

This is probably the most important lesson of all.

No matter how powerful AI becomes, fundamentals are not going anywhere.

Understanding programming concepts, data structures, algorithms, databases, system design, debugging, networking, security, and software architecture will always matter.

The tools may change.

The workflows may change.

The models may change.

BUT THE FUNDAMENTALS REMAIN.

And let me leave you with this:

THE FACT THAT AI CAN WRITE CODE THAT AN AVERAGE DEVELOPER CANNOT WRITE DOES NOT REMOVE THE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO READ AND WRITE CODE YOURSELF.

In fact, understanding code may become even more valuable in the AI era.

Many developers are already spending less time typing code and more time directing AI agents.

But when systems fail, when performance issues arise, when security vulnerabilities appear, or when business requirements become complex, someone still needs to understand what is happening behind the scenes.