Yes, but the value proposition has shifted. It's less about writing code from scratch and more about knowing enough to automate, integrate, and troubleshoot systems.
The people making consistent money with programming right now are:
Automators — Python scripts that scrape data, manage accounts, schedule posts, process files at scale. AI actually made this more accessible, not less — you can build functional automation scripts with basic Python knowledge and use AI tools for the heavy lifting on complex logic.
API integrators — connecting services in ways that aren't covered by Zapier or Make. Custom webhook handlers, data pipelines, notification systems. Niche but steady demand.
Tool builders — simple internal tools or small SaaS for specific problems. Rank trackers, account management panels, proxy rotation managers. Even a basic tool that solves one painful problem can generate passive income.
The "write me a full web app" freelance market is getting squeezed by AI tools, yes. But the ability to write a 50-line script that saves someone 3 hours per day is still worth real money — and AI actually makes that threshold easier to reach, not harder.
Practical starting point for the BHW context: Python basics, then requests/httpx, then Playwright or Selenium. That covers 80% of what's useful here for automation and scraping. You can be productive within 2-3 months of focused learning.
