Exactly this for me as well. When I was a SWE I thought what I loved was problem solving. So after many years of doing that I decided to move upsteam and took Product roles so that I can identify and address big business problems. It was only after I switched that I realized that I was not in love with problem solving. I was in love with art. Programming was art of me.
I kept at it on the side as a hobby. But stacks evolved and I was left behind. Now with AI it's back on.
I kept at it on the side as a hobby. But stacks evolved and I was left behind. Now with AI it's back on.