Software made by people, not programmers
During the early years of personal computing, something extraordinary happened. Computers ceased to be tools exclusive to specialists and began to amplify people's creative capacity. It wasn't just about technology. It was about control, intention, and the freedom to create without asking for permission.
Over time, that promise faded.
Software became complex. Development became professionalized. And most
people learned to wait. Wait for new features. Wait for solutions. Wait
for someone else to build what they needed.
Personal Software is born as a response to that waiting.
What is Personal Software?
Personal Software is a movement that proposes giving people back creative control over the tools they use.
It's not about generic software for millions of users.
It's about small, specific tools close to real life.
Personal Software is:
- Software created to solve a concrete problem.
- Software made by the person living that problem.
- Software that prioritizes immediate utility over scalability or perfection.
It's not born for the market.
It's born for someone.
The Solver, the central figure
Within this movement appears a new figure: the Solver.
The Solver is not defined by knowing how to code or not.
They are defined by their relationship with the problem they want to solve.
A Solver:
- Starts from a real and personal need.
- Clearly defines what they want to solve and why.
- Doesn't wait for a perfect app to exist.
- Decides to build their own solution.
The focus shifts from writing code to solving.
The Solver doesn't replace the programmer. It changes the center of
the story.
Intention becomes more important than syntax.
Vibe Coding as an enabling practice
The Solver can exist today because there is a new way to create software.
Through tools supported by artificial intelligence, the Solver can delegate code writing and focus on what really matters:
- Defining.
- Prioritizing.
- Adjusting.
- Maintaining closeness to the real problem.
We call this practice Vibe Coding.
Vibe Coding is not the goal.
It is the means.
It is what allows intention to turn into software without unnecessary friction.
An important clarification
When we talk about focusing on "what really matters," we do so in the context of the problem the Solver wants to solve, not as a denial of the value of code or programming.
Code remains fundamental.
Programmers remain essential.
The difference is one of level and focus.
- The Coder optimizes systems, platforms, and infrastructure.
- The Solver optimizes personal, specific, and close-to-home solutions.
They don't replace each other.
They complement each other.
Why this movement matters
Personal Software matters because it changes the relationship between people and technology.
When you don't need to ask for permission, creativity appears.
When you don't need to know how to program, participation appears.
When you don't need perfection, speed appears.
Technology becomes personal again when it returns to the hands of those who need it.
The future doesn't belong only to those who code.
It belongs to those who solve.
To dig deeper
This framework is developed in greater detail in the following articles:
Published on the blog Código Ergo Sum.