Agentic Coding with Ryan Castner

Ryan and I plan to start doing a podcast more regularly starting next Friday. Enjoy our first one today as we dive into many AI coding tools and our thoughts on the different ways of using them.

Summary

In this conversation, Zach and Ryan discuss the RevenueCat hackathon, exploring app development ideas and investment strategies. They delve into the use of AI tools in coding, the challenges developers face with AI, and the future of AI in software development. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding AI tools, the potential pitfalls of relying too heavily on them, and the evolving landscape of coding productivity.

Chapters

1. Introduction to Revenue Cat Hackathon (0:00 - 2:30)

   • Discussion about the Revenue Cat Ship-a-Tone 2025 hackathon.

   • Details about the submission requirements and prize categories.

2. Revenue Cat's Mission and Requirements (2:31 - 5:00)

   • Explanation of Revenue Cat's mission and the requirement to use their subscription payment service.

3. App Idea Discussion (5:01 - 10:00)

   • Conversation about a potential app idea related to investment and savings.

   • Comparison with existing apps like Griffin and Acorns.

4. Agentic Coding and AI Tools (10:01 - 20:00)

   • Discussion on using coding agents and AI tools like React Native, Swift, and LLMs.

   • Personal experiences with various AI tools and their impact on productivity.

5. Challenges with AI Tools (20:01 - 30:00)

   • Issues faced with AI tools like Gemini and Claude.

   • Discussion on the importance of context windows and tool calls.

6. Pricing and Subscription Plans (30:01 - 40:00)

   • Conversation about the pricing of AI tools and subscription plans.

   • Personal experiences with different plans and their value.

7. Local Model Performance and Hardware (40:01 - 50:00)

   • Discussion on running local models and the hardware requirements.

   • Comparison of different hardware capabilities for running AI models.

8. Future of AI in Development (50:01 - 60:00)

   • Speculation on the future of AI in software development.

   • Concerns about the impact of AI on developer roles and salaries.

Takeaways

The Revenue Cat hackathon encourages developers to create new apps.

Investment apps can help users save and invest simultaneously.

AI tools can enhance coding productivity but require understanding.

Developers need to be cautious about relying solely on AI.

The future of software development will heavily involve AI tools.

Companies may face challenges if they rely too much on AI for coding.

Understanding the context of code is crucial for effective AI use.

AI can help automate tasks but may introduce new complexities.

Developers should maintain their coding skills alongside using AI tools.

The landscape of coding tools is rapidly evolving, requiring adaptability.