The Future of Custom Software is Cheap — Maybe Even Free

The Future of Custom Software is Cheap — Maybe Even Free

We're entering an era where building your own software—tailored exactly to your needs—is becoming not only accessible but also incredibly affordable. In fact, in many cases, it’s practically free.

I recently tested this out using V0.dev, a platform that lets you generate and deploy software applications using natural language prompts. My goal? To build a simple bulk resume screening tool that could help parse and score resumes based on job descriptions. I didn’t hire a dev team or spend weeks building it. I just used a clear, well-structured prompt—and let the AI do the heavy lifting.

Here’s the live demo and GitHub repo if you want to take a peek under the hood.

What I Learned:

• Prompt engineering matters: The AI can build impressive tools—but only if you tell it exactly what you want. The clearer and cleaner your prompt, the better the result. You’re not coding the app—you’re describing it in a way the AI understands.

• You don’t need to be a developer: With tools like V0.dev, basic coding skills are helpful, but not mandatory. I recommend knowing enough to troubleshoot or tweak things. That way, you're not stuck if something breaks—and you'll better understand what the AI is actually producing.

• One-person dev teams are real: This isn’t just about building MVPs. This is about enabling anyone with a problem and an idea to create their own solution—without waiting in line for dev resources or writing 10,000 lines of code.

The Bottom Line:

We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how software is built. The barrier to entry is lower than ever. You no longer need funding, a tech cofounder, or deep programming knowledge to build useful tools. All you need is a good idea and a well-thought-out prompt.

Custom software isn’t just for enterprises anymore. It’s for everyone.