AI-driven agents will soon dominate software interactions, pushing developers to rethink product design from onboarding to authentication.
Frictionless experiences—like instant access and simplified workflows—are critical for agent-friendly products.
AI tools are empowering non-technical users, such as marketers and designers, to create software like email templates in seconds.
Side projects born from personal challenges can lead to massive success, as seen with the Dracula theme’s 9 million users.
Developers must adopt AI tools like Cursor and focus on real-world use cases to thrive in the shifting tech landscape.
1. Agents as the New Software Drivers
AI agents are poised to take over most software interactions, shifting the focus from human users to machine-driven actions. Tied to the email platform Resend, agents will become the primary users of services like databases and email systems, requiring a complete overhaul of how software is built.
Resend already sees agents programmatically sending emails, a sign of this shift.
Quote: “I believe it’s going to be the majority of the actions will be taken by agents instead of humans. And that’s just the reality we’re going to live in. So we have to rethink the way we’re building product to support that reality.”
“I believe it’s going to be the majority of the actions will be taken by agents instead of humans. And that’s just the reality we’re going to live in. So we have to rethink the way we’re building product to support that reality.”
2. Building Frictionless Products for Agents
Products must evolve to suit agents, who demand instant access and minimal hurdles. Traditional barriers—like multi-step sign-ups or days-long verifications—won’t work in an agent-first world, using Resend’s one-minute email-sending capability as an example.
Authentication and permissioning need reimagining for agents, not just humans.
Activity logs are vital for tracking agent actions and debugging errors.
Quote: “You cannot have like 10 steps or you cannot wait two days to get access to your account. You cannot wait for the account manager to schedule a call with you or to book a demo.”
“You cannot have like 10 steps or you cannot wait two days to get access to your account. You cannot wait for the account manager to schedule a call with you or to book a demo.”
3. AI Unlocks Software Creation for All
AI is democratizing software development, enabling non-technical users to build tools quickly. “New Email,” a Resend feature that lets marketers and designers craft email templates in seconds, no coding required is a leap from the days of agency handoffs.
A designer friend ditched Figma for AI tools like Cursor and V0, showing how creative workflows are shifting.
Quote: “We built this thing called New Email that really helps like you go from zero, from like an idea to an email template in seconds.”
4. From Hospital Bed to 9 Million Users
Zeno Rocha built the Dracula theme to solve a nagging problem. While stuck in a Madrid hospital for three weeks—sick, laptop stolen, workflow shattered—his biggest frustration was the visual mess of his digital tools. Code editors, browsers, and apps all looked different, scattering his focus and slowing him down. He crafted Dracula, a dark mode theme, to unify his screen and sharpen his efficiency. “I just wanted a thing that worked everywhere,” he said. Now, 9 million users and $300,000 in sales show others craved that fix too.
Today, that vision has grown into a phenomenon, with the Dracula theme attracting 9 million users and generating $300,000 in sales from its pro version—an extraordinary outcome for a project conceived under such trying circumstances.
Quote: “I built the first version in the hospital. And then it just took off after that.”
5. Developer Survival in the AI Age
Developers must embrace AI tools and prioritize practical use cases to stay relevant. Switching to tools like Cursor, despite initial discomfort, and building for agents—such as with the MCP protocol—offers a path forward.
Zeno initially ignored AI to focus on Resend but now sees it as essential.
Quote: “Ok, I am used to VS code… I have to switch to Cursor even for a little bit, you know, even if it hurts in the beginning. Like I remember my extensions were not ready... It broke my whole workflow. Now I can’t live without it.”
“Ok, I am used to VS code… I have to switch to Cursor even for a little bit, you know, even if it hurts in the beginning. Like I remember my extensions were not ready... It broke my whole workflow. Now I can’t live without it.”