Software developer cites depression and AI reliance for career collapse

A software developer has published a detailed personal account on their blog, ramones.dev, outlining a career trajectory derailed by severe depression and potential undiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). The author reports being dismissed from two previous roles, attributing the terminations to a critical lack of mental space and a reliance on large language models (LLMs) that resulted in sloppy, untested code.

The writer describes a decline from initial excitement during a Bachelor of Science internship to a persistent state of demotivation. After being fired from two subsequent positions, the developer realised that external factors such as company culture or boss competence were not the primary causes of their failure. Instead, they identified a personal inability to maintain rigorous testing paths and task completion, exacerbated by the ease with which LLMs allowed them to bypass traditional coding workflows.

Currently living on government benefits, the author is undergoing treatment with fluoxetine and oxazepam. They have taken a hiatus from the software development industry, noting that they do not feel capable of delivering quality work and wish to avoid becoming a burden to future employers. The writer has set a long-term goal to achieve a stable life, potentially outside of software development, by the end of 2027.

Communication with support networks, including their general practitioner, PAPC, friends, and family, was identified as a crucial step in managing their condition. The developer emphasised that a lack of communication had previously compounded their frustrations, leading to misunderstandings. They also noted that therapy is expected to take at least a year to yield significant results, advising against rushing the recovery process.

The post, originally shared on Hacker News, received mixed reactions from the online community, ranging from relatability to criticism regarding the author’s tone and language. The developer has since deleted some of their initial, more raw inner thoughts from the blog, though they remain in the site’s git history. The account serves as a candid look at the intersection of mental health, modern development tools, and professional sustainability.