Date: 01/22/2025
Okay, this Fireship video on open-source alternatives to popular SaaS tools is *exactly* the kind of content that gets me excited right now. It’s essentially a rapid-fire showcase of FOSS options for things like MS Office (LibreOffice), Notion (Appflowy), Heroku/Vercel (Coolify, Dokku) and even Zoom (Jitsi). Why is this relevant to AI coding? Because it highlights the shift towards more control and customization, which is exactly what you get when you start integrating LLMs and no-code tools into your workflow. We’re talking about building our own solutions, not just relying on pre-packaged SaaS.
For me, the value is in the mindset shift. Instead of thinking, “I need X feature, let me find a SaaS that offers it,” you start thinking, “I need X feature, how can I build it, or adapt an existing open-source project, using AI to speed up the process?” For example, let’s say I need a custom CRM. Instead of Salesforce, I could use NocoDB (a no-code database) and leverage an LLM to generate custom APIs or workflows. This video plants that seed of possibility. And hey, the mention of self-hosting with Coolify and Dokku? That’s pure gold for anyone who’s ever felt locked into a specific cloud provider.
Ultimately, it’s worth experimenting with because it unlocks possibilities. Suddenly, that complex internal tool you were dreading building feels less daunting. You see a path to building a tailored solution instead of settling for something off-the-shelf. Plus, the open-source angle means you can contribute back to the community and learn from others. It’s not just about saving money (though that’s a nice perk!); it’s about taking ownership of your tools and workflows, which, in my book, is where the real magic happens when you combine traditional development with the power of AI.