AI can already write code — so why can't it build software independently?
AI can generate runnable software in minutes, but running doesn't mean done. In an inventory system, rules for concurrent orders, returns, cancellations and database failures may never be documented—yet one miss causes real loss. AI can write code, but who spots the gaps and judges whether the solution is right is software development's most overlooked part. A running program only proves it works
Now, AI can produce a piece of software for you in minutes.
But does the fact that a program can run mean the software is truly done?
If you think so, you may have underestimated the real difficulty of software development.
For example.
An enterprise wants to develop an inventory management system. You tell AI the requirements, and have it generate pages, write code, connect to a database, and even build functions such as inbound, outbound, and inventory queries.
When you open it, the pages look beautiful and the functions work.
Is it ready for delivery?
Not so fast.
Suppose there is only one item left in the warehouse, and two salespeople place orders almost simultaneously. Can the system guarantee that only one of them successfully places the order?
If a customer returns an item, how is inventory restored? If an order is cancelled, how is the reserved inventory released? If the database connection suddenly drops, could the system end up with an order created but inventory not deducted?
Customers may not tell you these things at the beginning, and the requirements document may not specify them clearly.
But if they happen even once, the system could cause real losses to the enterprise.
You see, AI can generate the code, but whether the code covers these rules is another matter.
Of course, this is not to say that AI cannot handle concurrency, exceptions, and complex business logic. As long as the context is sufficient, the requirements are clear, and there are sufficiently reliable testing and verification mechanisms, AI can absolutely help solve these problems, and even automatically complete a considerable portion of them.
The real question is:
Who discovers what problems have not yet been considered?Who judges whether the solution AI provides is actually correct?
This is the most easily overlooked part of software development.
01The Fact That a Program Can Run Only Shows That It Runs Under Certain Conditions
For a piece of software, from code generation to true delivery, it still has to go through requirements confirmation, system design, functional verification, exception handling, security checks, and post-launch maintenance.
The fact that a program can run only shows that it runs under certain conditions.It does not prove that it conforms to all business rules, let alone that it is reliable in real environments over the long term.
So, do not mythologise AI programming.
02Software Development Has Never Been Just About Writing Code
AI is substantially lowering the threshold of code implementation, but software development has never been just about writing code – it is about solving a real problem and ensuring that the solution is reliable, usable, and maintainable.
And this leads to the next question:
If even the customer has not explained the requirements clearly, how can AI possibly get the software right in one go?
In the next episode, we will discuss:
What AI is most likely to get wrong may not be the code, but what the customer actually wants.