I understand the temptation of using AI to write your own apps. I’m sick of the endless subscriptions, feature bloat, and raising the subscription price to accommodate the feature bloat. But it may not be all it’s cracked up to be.

It can definitely be a huge timesaver (I've used it to build WordPress plugins and write Obsidian Dataview code), but it can also be a huge time suck.

It can be hard to know if it’s worth trying. That’s why in this episode, I give you a simple 5-question framework to help you decide when building your own software makes sense — and when it's just a shiny distraction.

If you've ever thought about vibe coding your way to the perfect tool, this one's for you.

Have you tried vibe coding something for your business? I want to hear about it — head over to Streamlined Feedback and leave me a voice note.

And if you want to try the iOS app I built, join the beta at streamlined.fm/app. In this episode, I cover:

Why the death of single-purpose software is making us all want to build our own tools
The 3 things you still need to understand even when AI is writing the code
Quick wins: where AI-assisted coding actually saves time
My cautionary tale of building an iOS app with AI
A 5-question decision framework for solopreneurs considering building software
3 pieces of advice if you do decide to go for it
How to use your app as "sawdust" — and turn it into a lead magnet

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Streamlined Solopreneur is the podcast for solopreneurs who want to automate their business and take time off worry-free. Each week, Joe Casabona shares practical systems, tools, and strategies to help you reclaim your time and run your business without sacrificing your the rest of your life, or your health.

Start with the free Solopreneur Sweep — a step-by-step method for finding where your business is losing time: https://streamlined.fm/sweep

If this episode helped you, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts helps other solopreneurs find the show — it only takes a minute and means a lot.

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/