Application layer matters more than models

This week. we discuss Claude Code's momentum, Cursor's identity crisis, and the SDLC's uncertain future. Plus, Coté finally explains how Markdown is destroying the economy.

Watch the YouTube Live Recording of Episode 562

Runner-up Titles

• Demos over Memos
• Products over Prose
• Software written by the many for the few
• USB is flaky
• Do you get a Code of Conduct for prison?
• I thought I had typed it somewhere
• Markdown is taking down the economy
• Claude, Take the Wheel
• Sticking with month-to-month
• Precious Tokens
• Rip Van Winkle this whole AI thing
• The ants have won
• They have infinite tokens
• Is SLDC Dead?

Rundown

• The SaaS-Apocalypse was based on markdown files
• The Software Development Lifecycle Is Dead
• The Third Era of Software Development
• Intelligence, Subtracted
• Anthropic rejects Pentagon’s AI demands
• Exclusive-Anthropic investors push to de-escalate Pentagon clash over AI safeguards
• ‘Incoherent’: Hegseth’s Anthropic ultimatum confounds AI policymaker
• Anthropic leads Enterprise AI Spend
• Anthropic took >50% of spend on enterprise AI subscriptions
• $110 Billion in Name Only
• OpenAI reveals more details about its agreement with the Pentagon
• OpenAI changes deal with US military after backlash

Relevant to your Interests

• McKinsey and AWS launch Amazon McKinsey Group
• Polymarket defends its decision to allow betting on war as ‘invaluable’
• The Supreme Court doesn't care if you want to copyright your AI-generated art
• Distinguished Eng On Stack Ranking, Competing with Bezos, Regrets
• WIZ: My Personal AI Agent
• OpenAI changes deal with US military after backlash
• Tech Publications Lost 58% of Google Traffic Since 2024
• Ramp AI Index

Nonsense

• Callers to Washington state hotline press 2 for Spanish and get accented AI English instead
• Anyone Else Have Those Weird Dreams Where Sobbing Future Generations Beg You To Change Course?

Conferences

• Austin Meetup, March 10th, Listener Steve Anness speaking on Grafana
• KubeCon EU, March 23rd to 26th, 2026 - Coté will be there on a media pass.
• DevOpsdays Atlanta 2026, April 21-22, 2026
• DevOpsDays Austin, May 5-6, 2026
• WeAreDevelopers, July 8th to 10th, Berlin, Coté speaking.
• VMware User Groups (VMUGs):
  • Amsterdam (March 17-19, 2026) - Coté speaking.
  • Minneapolis (April 7-9, 2026)
  • Toronto (May 12-14, 2026)
  • Dallas (June 9-11, 2026)
  • Orlando (October 20-22, 2026)

SDT News & Community

• Join our Slack community
• Email the show: questions@softwaredefinedtalk.com
• Free stickers: Email your address to stickers@softwaredefinedtalk.com
• Follow us on social media: Twitter, Threads, Mastodon, LinkedIn, BlueSky
• Watch us on: Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok
• Book offer: Use code SDT for $20 off "Digital WTF" by Coté
• Sponsor the show
• Sponsor more podcasts with Failover Media

Recommendations

• Brandon:
  • Failover Media Newsletter
  • Milestone 1.1
  • Ski Quiver
• Matt: IKEA MYGGSPRAY motion sensor, TRADFRI LED and RODRET
• Coté: The “Anime Wow” sound. And, related to Brandon’s modernization talk last week.