Programming Is 20x Faster
TL;DR
The cost of programming is approaching zero, thanks to advancements in AI tools like ChatGPT, large language models (LLMs), hyperscalers such as AWS and Azure, and adjacent developer tools like Linear and Korbit. Programming is now 20x faster, enabling rapid innovation, clean code, and seamless integration. This shift demands a radical rethinking of how we build, manage, and scale applications.
Key Takeaways:
1. Innovation is accessible and experimentation is virtually free. Companies can iterate quickly, fail fast, and continuously improve.
2. Traditional management structures are outdated. Transparency from modern tools makes “managers of managers” unnecessary.
3. Build vs. Buy has flipped. It’s often cheaper and faster to create tailored solutions rather than rely on high-cost, general-purpose SaaS tools.
4. Legacy systems are being disrupted. ERPs and overpriced SaaS apps must evolve to stay relevant.
5. Speed is the ultimate advantage. Organizations must prioritize rapid execution over extensive planning to remain competitive.
The Networking Analogy
I remember when the radical idea of “what if the cost of connectivity and bandwidth was zero” first emerged—it transformed the world. Before broadband, bandwidth was scarce, and technologies like streaming media or connected devices such as AirTags felt like science fiction. Now, with “free unlimited bandwidth,” we carry supercomputers in our pockets (e.g., iPhones) and connect to tools like ChatGPT, giving us nearly unlimited power to inquire, learn, and act.
Today, a similar revolution is happening with programming. What if the cost of programming was essentially zero? This concept turns everything we “know” on its head and opens up a world of new possibilities. Enabled by AI tools, large language models (LLMs), hyperscalers like AWS and Azure, and a globally connected ecosystem, the barriers to building and experimenting are dissolving. The imperative is clear: build, don’t buy. Use programmers (whether staff, consultants, or AI-driven), innovate rapidly, and eliminate unnecessary “management” and “control” overhead.
The Programming Experience
20x Faster
Thanks to tools like ChatGPT and similar LLM capabilities, programming is now at least 20x faster.
How do I know? I’ve observed programmers in action using an “AI-first” approach. Their feedback is astounding: “I built something in four hours that used to take a month.”
I’ve seen them solve problems in real-time:
? Start with AI-generated code.
? Test and improve iteratively.
? Include robust features like security and documentation on the fly.
The New Adjacent Tools
We aren’t the only ones building faster and smarter. Entire ecosystems of “single-purpose” tools are being developed rapidly, creating better alternatives to traditional workflows.
? Linear: A project and code management tool that’s intuitive and integrates seamlessly into your environment. Compared to cumbersome systems like JIRA, Linear is a joy to use.
? Korbit: This developer tool provides instant feedback on pull requests, makes work transparent, and enables engineering managers to track contributions. It even generates automatic release notes.
Immediate Infrastructure
Today’s tools can create fully functional applications by leveraging existing platforms like AWS or Azure. These pay-as-you-go models enable instant scalability while incorporating built-in security and monitoring. They also optimize spending and suggest refactoring opportunities.
Clean Code and Clear Documentation
AI-assisted tools produce some of the cleanest code I’ve seen. Every pull request undergoes automated review and history tracking, while LLMs generate detailed comments and even marketing-ready documentation effortlessly.
Cost of Programming Approaching Zero
This 20x productivity boost is just the beginning. Adjacent tools like Korbit, evolving LLMs like ChatGPT, and hyperscalers continue to innovate at breakneck speed. The cost of building software is dropping, and the potential is boundless.
Secondary Implications
How We Build Applications Will Change
The traditional model of long analysis, phased work, and eventual feedback is obsolete. Today, the approach is:
1. Begin programming immediately.
2. Show results early and often.
3. Use small, parallel teams to solve problems incrementally.
“Managers of Managers” Are Obsolete
The role of general managers overseeing coders is increasingly redundant. With tools like Korbit, code contributions are transparent and measurable. What’s needed are:
? Engineering leaders who drive product direction.
? Experts who understand the data, customer goals, and adjacent tasks.
Multiple Interfaces and Many Connections
What was once a limitation—serving customers across many interfaces—is now a strength. AI makes it easy to create apps, APIs, websites, chatbots, augmented reality tools, and more. These systems can integrate with other platforms, continuously updating as new APIs emerge.
Work Without Re-Keying Data
Legacy apps like Salesforce and JIRA require manual data entry. Modern systems integrate seamlessly with tools like email and AI-powered meeting notes, eliminating duplicate processes and automating categorization.
Innovation and Speed
Innovation
Innovation is a cornerstone of high-performing companies. A 20x productivity leap makes experimentation and innovation dramatically more accessible.
Experimentation Is Now Free
Experimentation, once seen as costly, is now cheap and essential. Instead of rigid project plans, teams can iterate quickly, experiment with customers, and adapt as opportunities emerge.
Speed Finds Opportunities
History shows that novel technologies rarely end where they begin. For example, who predicted the profound impact of AirPods and podcasts on media and elections? By experimenting quickly and combining innovations, companies can uncover transformative opportunities.
The Future Is Unknown
The Experts Don’t Know
No one truly knows what’s next—not consultants, architects, pundits, or investors. The rapid pace of combinatory technologies creates an unpredictable future.
Action Is Greater Than Planning
Instead of long planning cycles, embrace experimentation and automation. Learning comes from doing—not reading, strategizing, or off-sites.
Most Planning Is Wasteful
In complex, fast-changing markets, planning is wasteful. The only way forward is rapid execution. Those who resist this model become barriers to success.
Large Tech
The Efficiency Memo
Meta’s “Year of Efficiency” memo is essential reading. It anticipated much of this transformation, focusing on reducing bureaucracy, empowering contributors, and leveraging adjacent tools.
Despite its controversies, Twitter operates with drastically reduced headcount, demonstrating the efficiency gains possible in this new environment.
Markets
Legacy companies struggle because they fail to adopt modern methodologies. Giants like Boeing, Intel, and Volkswagen are being overtaken by tech-forward competitors.
Implications in the Enterprise
Reinvest in Your Own Capabilities
The build vs. buy paradigm has flipped. Instead of relying on general-purpose, costly SaaS tools, it now makes more sense to build tailored solutions that deliver superior results.
Leverage a Global Workforce
With real-time productivity tracking, companies can easily engage contractors or global teams without reliance on traditional management layers.
Unbundling ERPs
ERP systems are outdated, unwieldy, and resistant to change. Modern approaches break them into modular components or replace them with purpose-built tools.
SaaS Costs Must Plummet
SaaS companies must lower prices to reflect the drastically reduced cost of software development.
Barriers to Success
Finance
Traditional financial models prioritize moving into low-cost maintenance mode and outsourcing and offshoring. These assumptions no longer hold in a world of 20x productivity.
Legal and Procurement
Lengthy approval cycles are unsustainable. Companies must adapt or risk being left behind.
Audit and Security
Audit and security teams must embed themselves in the process, ensuring best practices upfront rather than slowing innovation.
Senior Management
Senior leaders must embrace uncertainty, move rapidly, and rethink their roles. Political silos and outdated management styles are liabilities in this new era.
Final Thoughts
The cost of programming is approaching zero, and the pace of innovation is accelerating. Companies that embrace these changes will thrive, while those that cling to old models risk irrelevance.