The Minimum Viable Unit of Saleable Software
The author explores the viability of building a small software business in the era of LLMs, addressing concerns that AI makes custom software too easy to replicate. The piece argues that while building software is cheaper, the 'minimum viable unit' of value still requires human strategy and maintenance.
Why it matters
It addresses the shifting economic landscape for software startups as AI tools lower the barrier to entry for custom internal tooling.
Last week I wrote about leaving Stainless and my intention to work on building my side project River into a small, sustainable business. When I sent that letter, a few people asked about my thought process in trying to run a software company in the age of AI: "Are you crazy?! Anything you ship can be instantly displaced by an internal package built by an LLM!" Having become as much of an LLM convert as anyone at this point, I acknowledge that it's a very fair question. Indeed I might be crazy, but I'll talk through my thought process, and you can decide.
The article provides a balanced perspective on the impact of AI on software development business models.
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