We Are Going to Die

Whats upppp!

We are going to die.

Not literally—don’t panic! But the old way of writing code and developing software is rapidly fading, and we must boldly move forward without hesitation.

I'm specifically talking about making Cursor, ChatGPT, and templates an inseparable part of our everyday workflow. AI usage isn't optional anymore—it's now our fundamental expectation at Sidetool.

Shopify recently declared reflexive AI usage mandatory for every employee, and Sidetool is fully embracing this essential cultural shift. This means you must actively use AI as your co-developer, problem-solver, critical thinking partner, and relentless code reviewer. It’s about integrating these tools into the fabric of your daily routine so seamlessly that the idea of working without AI becomes unimaginable. If you are not at this stage, reach out to me immediately and lets have a conversation about it. I don’t want to see anyone using VSCode anymore, you have to use Cursor. This is non-negotiable from this point forward.

Let's face reality clearly: traditional coding methods can’t and won’t keep us competitive in today’s market. The pace of innovation and productivity we now require is only achievable by fully leveraging AI. AI dramatically accelerates every aspect of software development—from initial brainstorming and rapid prototyping to solving complex debugging issues and refining code. Andrej Karpathy calls this new paradigm "vibe coding," where developers simply "give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists." It’s about creating and innovating at the speed of thought.

If you're not already familiar with this concept, please watch this essential video to fully grasp "vibe coding": Vibe Coding Explained. Even if you are familiar with the concept, please watch this video, it will give you a good understanding on how you need to shift your mentality when working with AI coders.

Here's exactly what this means for Sidetool moving forward:

• AI-first mindset: From this point forward, every project begins by exploring AI-generated code, leveraging Cursor, ChatGPT, and predefined AI-powered templates. Using AI is no longer optional; it’s foundational.

• Reflexive Usage: AI tools must become your instinctual first step—not a fallback or afterthought. Whether you're starting a new feature, debugging code, or crafting user interfaces, your immediate action should be to engage with AI.

• Template-Driven Efficiency: Stop reinventing the wheel. Utilize and constantly enhance our internal templates for code, designs, and documentation through AI. Templates aren’t restrictive—they're springboards for faster, smarter innovation.

• Sharing is Mandatory: Every single week, each of you must share your experiences, experiments, and breakthroughs with Cursor, ChatGPT, and AI-generated templates in Slack. Detail your successes, struggles, innovative prompts, and creative uses that others can learn from and replicate.

• Continuous Learning and Peer Review: Adopting AI effectively is a skill we must continually refine together. Provide feedback, ask for advice, and help your teammates elevate their AI usage.

This cultural shift demands we become fearless and relentless explorers, continuously pushing the limits of how AI can multiply our productivity and innovation. If you believe you need more resources, you must first clearly prove why AI solutions alone cannot achieve your goals. This means we don’t hire more teammates until clearly proven that AI cannot solve the gap.

We won't seek external help from Barb or anyone else—we set our own standards. We lead by example, and we propel each other forward.

This is not just another initiative; this is our cultural identity.

Welcome to the future.

Let’s make shit happen 🚀