Avoid AI atrophy – new tool promises to reverse vibe coding skills decay

The Register · 1 week ago

Ashutosh Rath created Atrophy, a command-line tool that tracks coding skill decay by testing developers across five skill areas including syntax recall, debugging, and code reading using an Elo-style rating system starting at 1200 per skill. Users complete a 25-minute baseline exam and then take 5-10 minute drills two to three times weekly, with the app targeting the most neglected skills and optionally measuring skill gaps between AI-assisted and unassisted coding once monthly. The tool allows developers to monitor whether reliance on AI agents is eroding their independent programming abilities before real-world consequences like technical interviews or outages expose the gaps.