Overview
Chris Ashworth, CEO of QLab theater automation software, shares his experience using Claude Code to build a custom lighting design application in just a few days for a highly niche project with only three users. His perspective demonstrates AI as a force multiplier for skilled programmers rather than a replacement, enabling the creation of specialized tools that would never justify the time investment otherwise.
The Breakdown
- AI coding tools like Claude Code enable rapid development of ultra-niche applications - Ashworth built a polished lighting design app for just 3 users in days rather than the weeks it would have taken manually
- AI amplifies existing programming skill rather than replacing it - good programmers get faster at making good programs while bad programmers just make bad programs faster
- Quality control and code understanding remain essential - the human programmer must still direct, edit, and validate all AI-generated code rather than blindly shipping it
- AI democratizes specialized tool creation by dramatically reducing development time - projects that were economically unviable for tiny audiences now become feasible to build
- Professional skepticism evolved into cautious adoption - a career-changing moment for developers who learn to use AI as sophisticated power tools rather than automated replacements