"Disposable software" is on the rise: AI-built tools with <1 month shelf life, still positive ROI
nickbaumann_ · x · 2026-08-19
Nick Bumann observes a spreading pattern: more and more developers (himself included) use AI to quickly build little tools with no intention of distribution — what he calls "personal software" or "disposable software".
- The quoted tweet is a typical case: web-based Excel viewers are expensive with annoying licenses, so one person had GPT-5.6 Sol build one in about 2 hours.
- These tools often have a shelf life under a month, yet ROI stays positive because they're so cheap to build.
- The deeper shift: software value no longer comes from scaled distribution but from instantly serving a personal need.
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