DeepSeek Coding Challenge: Can It Replace a Junior Developer?

I set up a challenge to see if DeepSeek could handle the tasks typically given to a junior developer on my team. The tasks ranged from fixing CSS bugs to implementing a simple API endpoint. DeepSeek performed admirably on well-defined problems with clear requirements. Where it struggled was with ambiguous specifications and understanding existing codebase conventions. It generated working code about 70% of the time, but still required a human to review and adjust. It is not a replacement for a junior developer, but it is an incredible force multiplier that makes everyone more efficient.