The Build
Over the course of a few weeks, I used AI tools to help me build out a content management system (CMS) for this website. I’m not a software developer, but I shipped a production application in 10 days. In this series called “The Build,” I walk through some of the things I’ve learned–not just about software development, but about management, pacing, and how to keep sane while working on a big project.
Posts in this series
The Build I: CMS, meet AI and directed work
AI-assisted development is not about letting the AI take the wheel. The value comes from your ability to direct it effectively, and to recognize when it is heading in the wrong direction.
The Build II: I'm Not A Developer, But I Just Shipped A Production Application
You do not need to become a software developer to benefit from understanding how software development works. Here is what an accidental software developer learned—and why it might be useful to you, too.
The Build III: Scope and Knowing When To Ship
Even a solo project benefits from project management discipline. The practices that seem like "overhead" for a personal project are actually what let you ship.
The Build IV: Staying Sane While Shipping Fast
AI tools can dramatically accelerate development, but that acceleration creates new risks. The speed dividend is only valuable if you take it as space, not just as more speed.