Insurance carriers of every size now depend on software. A customer can buy a policy on a smartphone during a lunch break, take pictures of damage after a minor accident, and receive money in a bank account before dinner. Agents still exist, underwriters still weigh risks, and adjusters still step in when situations are complicated. However, much of the routine work is now performed by code running in the background. Understanding how that code is built, what problems it solves, and where the roadblocks are is required for anyone who wants to compete in the decade ahead.