The Lie Network Engineers Were Told
For years, the message was clear:
If you want to automate, learn Python.
And for a long time, that was true.
But it created a problem.
Most network engineers never started.
Not because they couldn’t, but because the path felt too heavy:
- Learn a programming language
- Understand APIs
- Build scripts from scratch
So they stayed in the CLI. And the gap started to grow.
What Changed
AI didn’t just improve automation.
It changed the entry point.
Instead of writing code, you can now:
- Ask questions
- Use tools
- Get structured answers
In this lab, we connected AI directly to a network source of truth (NetBox) using Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Then we asked:
“Show me all sites in New York.”
And it worked.
No Python required.
What a “Hello World” Looks Like Now
Traditionally, “Hello World” meant writing your first line of code.
Now?
It looks like this:
- Clone a repo
- Connect an AI agent
- Configure access (API key, MCP)
- Ask a real question
- Get a real answer
We went from zero to querying a network in under an hour.
Not perfectly.
But successfully.
What’s Happening
Behind the scenes:
- The AI understands your question
- MCP exposes available tools
- A structured request is sent to NetBox
- Data comes back
- The AI formats it for you
You don’t need to build this system.
You need to use it effectively.
Why This Matters More Than Python Ever Did
This doesn’t mean Python is dead.
It means Python is no longer the starting point.
The real skill shift is this:
From writing code → to orchestrating systems
And that’s a much lower barrier to entry.
The Real Risk Isn’t AI
It’s doing nothing.
Because now:
- The tools are easier
- The barrier is lower
- The value is higher
Which means the gap will grow faster.
What Next?
If you want to turn this into real value:
- Recreate the lab
- Connect it to your own environment
- Ask real operational questions
- Show someone at work
Don’t pitch AI.
Show what it can do.
Final Thought
This wasn’t polished.
We hit errors. We fixed JSON. We adjusted configs.
And that’s exactly why it matters.
Because if you can get through this…
You’ve already crossed the hardest part:
starting.
Listen to the full episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127872/episodes/19052514
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/d8U4wy8iFec
Links: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng
Discover more from The Art of Network Engineering
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
