GoKawiilReport: AI speeds up coding but legacy SDLC processes blunt the gains
A new analysis argues that although AI tools now let developers write, refactor, and document code far faster than two years ago, overall software shipping speed has barely improved. It attributes this gap to software development lifecycles still built around sprints, manual quality gates, and review handoffs designed for an era when writing code itself was the slowest step.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The disconnect suggests that simply adopting AI coding tools without rethinking surrounding processes may yield limited productivity gains, since the new bottleneck has shifted elsewhere in the pipeline. Organizations hoping to capture AI's full benefit may need to redesign review cycles, testing gates, and coordination practices rather than just upgrading tooling.
- AI has sharply cut the time needed to write and refactor code.
- Overall shipping speed hasn't kept pace, pointing to process bottlenecks beyond coding.
- Traditional SDLC structures like sprints and manual gates may need redesign to realize AI's benefits.
Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-10-13
Published there as: “Why your software development lifecycle is slow”
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