I think they stop being programmers and become solution engineers. The programming changes with the times but the ability to design and implement elegant solutions to a given problem is a timeless (and rare in terms of 'really successful') skill.
Or, so I think.
That's also one of the reasons why I don't like the title 'programmer' as opposed to something like 'software engineer'.
Or, so I think.
That's also one of the reasons why I don't like the title 'programmer' as opposed to something like 'software engineer'.