Code Is Cheap Now. Software Isn't. Where's The Real Premium? | Episode #011

Code Is Cheap Now. Software Isn't. Where's The Real Premium?

AI is changing everything about how we build software. But not in the way most people think.

Mike brought this visual today: Waterfall vs Agile vs AI vs Vibe Coding. The classic methodologies we all know. Build incrementally. Ship fast. Get user feedback. But then there's this new AI scenario where you just build the entire spaceship because you can. You build everything the customer asks for because code is cheap now and you want to move fast.

Problem is, your users just wanted a car.

**What we dig into:**

• Why engineers now need product management skills that used to belong to PMs and UX designers

• The collapse of offshore development and what that tells us about where value really lives

• Code is cheap, software isn't: understanding the business problem is the new premium

• Why distribution and marketing are still the hardest parts of this entire equation

• Feature bloat, UX bloat, and the trail of tears you leave behind when you build the spaceship first

• What it means to be passionate about this work versus just doing it for the paycheck

• Why someone with a $100 million exit is still shipping code every single day

The playing field is leveling. AI gives everyone access to code generation. But building the right thing at the right time? Understanding the business problem deeply enough to translate loose dreams into viable software? That's where the real value sits.

We used to hear about offshore development on every single call. Haven't heard it mentioned in six months. Why? Because the part people actually need is the translation of their vision into software. The writing of the code once you have the spec is what's cheap now. That's what you were getting for seven bucks an hour offshore. Now you're getting it in tokens.

What you can't get from tokens is someone who fundamentally understands your business problem. Someone who sees your vision clearer than you do. Someone who knows when to build less instead of building the wishlist. That comes with experience. That reflects in your rate. I don't care where you live in the world.

If you're a front end engineer asking how to stay relevant, broaden your skillset. Go full stack. Learn architecture patterns. Study how truly inspired products were built. Sharpen your product skills because that's the differentiator now.

If you're building products for clients or yourself, resist the urge to build the spaceship just because you can. Build the skateboard. Ship it. Get real users on it. Learn what they actually need. Then build the car.

The nature of software is to provide convenience. The art is knowing what convenience to build first.

FinForecasting launches February 1st. Built for bootstrap founders who need to track what actually matters.

Forward to Extraordinary.

**Links:**

• Original LinkedIn post with Waterfall vs Agile vs AI visual: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7417462014211710979?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAX7VawBiZRvmx4BpvwkHH_bDe5i5D32Tqw

• "Code is Cheap Now, Software Isn't" article: https://www.chrisgregori.dev/opinion/code-is-cheap-now-software-isnt

• Theo's video "What Happens Now": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28z6OjsNsUk

• Peter Steinberger's GitHub (example of passionate builder): https://github.com/steipete

• Connect with Justin on LinkedIn

• Subscribe to Strictly From Nowhere Newsletter

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