Netlify CEO: Anyone Can Code Now
The traditional definition of "developer" is expanding. Netlify's CEO explains how AI agents enable anyone to build web products.
The numbers are striking.
The Signup Surge
Netlify went from 3,000 signups per day to 16,000. The driving force: AI enabling non-developers to create.
Marketers. Designers. Product people. They're all now shipping React sites created through prompting.
Agent Experience (AX)
The conversation introduced a new concept: Agent Experience (AX) as a product North Star.
Three layers matter:
Platform AX. How agents interact with your platform.
Customer AX. How your customers' agents work with you.
Industry AX. Cross-industry dynamics.
Companies must optimize for agents as active users—not just human customers.
The Skills Shift
Developer skill is being redefined:
- Less about syntax
- More about systems thinking
- Product judgment matters more
- Prompt engineering becomes essential
The role evolves from writing code to directing AI that writes code.
What This Means
The barrier to building continues falling. Non-developers can create real products now.
This has implications:
- More people can participate in software creation
- Traditional developers must adapt or become redundant
- The market for "building" expands dramatically
Stay ahead of AI trends. tldl summarizes podcasts from builders and investors in the AI space.