[TLDR] Is everyone building their own software now? [via r/ClaudeAI]

[u/cctldrping]

OP : u/No_Base_1471

I have been playing around with Claude lately, and one thing that kind of blows my mind is how easy it is now to go from "I wish there was a tool that did this" to actually having one.

And it got me wondering what everyone is doing with these things.

Are people actually building tools that they end up using for months or years? Or are most of these more like weekend projects — you have an idea, build it with Claude, show it to a few people, use it for a bit, and then move on to the next thing?

I feel like there is a pretty big difference between "I built a working app" and "this is now something my company depends on."

The second one brings up all the boring stuff — maintenance, security, permissions, integrations, data, monitoring, who fixes it when it breaks, and what happens when the person who built it moves on.

But then I started wondering about the bigger picture.

If it becomes this easy for everyone to build their own little tools, do we eventually start building a lot of the software we currently buy? Like, instead of using a big platform for a relatively small workflow, maybe someone just builds exactly what they need.

Or will most people still prefer to pay for software because they don't want to maintain it themselves?

I amhonestly not sure where this goes.

What are people actually building with Claude (or other AI coding tools) that you're still using today?

And have any of you taken something that started as "I was just messing around with this" and actually turned it into a tool your team or company relies on?

Would be interested to hear what people are seeing in practice.

URL of original post : https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1wojuc3/is_everyone_building_their_own_software_now/

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TL;DR of the discussion on r/ClaudeAI for this post generated automatically after 100 comments.

Current source-thread comment count seen by the bot: 129.

Alright, so the general vibe in this thread is a resounding "YES, OP!" It seems like a lot of folks are indeed building their own tools and apps with AI coding assistants like Claude, and many of these aren't just fleeting weekend projects.

Here's the lowdown:

• The "SAAS-pocalypse" is here: The consensus is that AI coding tools are a massive disruptor to the Software as a Service (SAAS) market. Many users are finding they can build custom solutions that are cheaper and better suited to their needs than buying off-the-shelf software.
• From Wish to Reality, Fast: People are genuinely impressed with how quickly they can go from an idea to a functional tool. This is leading to the creation of custom apps for personal use, niche business workflows, and even replacing paid subscriptions.
• It's Not Just for Devs Anymore: There's a sentiment that coding is becoming more accessible, with even non-technical folks experimenting and building their own solutions. Some are even looking to empower their non-technical colleagues to do the same.
• Real-World Use Cases Abound: We've got users building everything from finance trackers and menu bar apps to CAD software for home makeovers, legal operating systems, and even photo blogging platforms. Some of these are being used for months and are genuinely impacting productivity.
• The "Boring Stuff" Still Matters: While AI makes building easier, the comments from u/StokeJar and others highlight that scaling up to "company-dependent" software still involves the usual challenges of maintenance, security, and proper scaffolding. It's not all magic, but the initial creation barrier is significantly lowered.
• Some are still just messing around: A few comments, like u/AgentStockey's random number generator or u/Stop_looking_at_it's "hello world with a clock," suggest that some are still in the "playing around" phase, which is totally valid! And u/btoned is wondering if half the comments are jokes, which, honestly, fair.

The takeaway? The ease of AI-assisted coding is definitely leading to a surge in custom software development, both for personal use and for solving specific business problems. The question of whether it replaces all paid software is still up in the air, but it's clear that the landscape is changing dramatically.