When I started programming in the 1990s, the world was just beginning to grapple with the transformative power of software. Back then, writing code felt like pure magic—a way to create something out of nothing. Decades later, despite exponential growth in technology, that process hasn’t fundamentally changed. Yes, we’ve gained better tools, frameworks, and languages, but the act of programming is still largely manual, requiring developers to type out logic, line by line.

And here’s the irony: the very industry building AI, automation, and tools to revolutionize other fields has itself been slow to embrace real automation. We’re still pouring hours into repetitive, tedious work. Even the rise of AI copilots has introduced its own friction—spending more time crafting the “perfect” prompts than actually solving problems.

This frustration is something I've felt throughout my career and it eventually led me into a space called Enterprise Low-Code. Here I began to see glimpses of what the future could look like. Low-code platforms promised incredible speed and productivity, slashing development time for complex applications from months to weeks. At their best, these platforms were prime examples of what could happen when we rethink programming from the ground up.

But those platforms always came with significant trade-offs. They were proprietary systems, often locking users into expensive license fees. More troublingly, they introduced a lack of control that developers found intolerable. These platforms didn’t generate clean, usable code—they stored your application in a proprietary database, compiling it into something resembling code only when needed. Developers lost the ability to directly interact with the lifeblood of their work: the source code itself.

And while the speed benefits were undeniable, low-code platforms never gained widespread adoption among developers. Why? Because programming is more than a means to an end—it’s a craft. When a platform takes away control, when it dictates how things are done, developers resist. I realized that to truly change the way we build software, we needed a different approach.

The Birth of Vast

That realization led to the creation of Vast. Vast is a platform that embraces the best parts of low-code—efficiency, speed, and simplicity—but does so in a way that respects developers and meets them where they are.

Unlike traditional low-code tools, Vast doesn’t introduce a proprietary middle layer. It doesn’t abstract away your codebase or store it in a database somewhere. Instead, Vast reads and writes your code directly from your file system, just like any modern integrated development environment (IDE). This means you can effortlessly switch between Vast and your IDE, with changes instantly reflected in both environments.

Here's what Vast will unlock for developers as we build out our roadmap:

• Accelerate Tedious Work: Vast eliminates the repetitive and mundane parts of programming. From generating boilerplate code to setting up common use cases and enforcing best practices, Vast handles it all through a visual interface. With Vast, you can build an entire application with 90% less typing, saving time without sacrificing quality or control.
• From Requirements to Application in Minutes: Vast will bridge the gap between requirements and implementation. Imagine uploading a requirements document and watching Vast auto-generate your application’s architecture and code in a modular, best-practice format—all in a matter of minutes. These requirements, version-controlled alongside your code, stay integrated with the development process, enabling a seamless workflow from idea to execution.
• Works seamlessly with your existing tools: Vast is built to complement your existing workflow, not replace it. Continue to use the tools you trust—Git, copilot-style AI assistants, CI platforms, and your favorite libraries. Vast enhances your process without disrupting it.
• Total Control: With Vast, there’s no black box, no vendor lock-in, and no compromises. It runs as a desktop app, works offline, and directly manipulates your codebase. What you see is what you get—clean, readable, real code that you can take anywhere.
• Developer-Centric Design: Vast respects the craft of programming while redefining what’s possible. By automating the laborious and enabling new levels of productivity, Vast gives developers the tools they need to focus on what truly matters: solving problems and creating innovative solutions.

Where Vast Stands Today

Vast is just getting started, but it’s already helping developers tackle some of the most time-consuming parts of programming.

• Scaffold Web APIs in Minutes
  Vast enables you to quickly scaffold robust web APIs. You can generate entire applications, reusable libraries, controllers, routes, and schema validation with just a few clicks. Once the structure is in place, jump into your IDE to refine and customize the details. It’s the perfect balance of speed and control.
• Built for NestJS, with More to Come
  Vast currently supports NestJS (TypeScript), a powerful and popular framework for building scalable server-side applications. Other frameworks and languages are already on the roadmap, ensuring Vast will meet the diverse needs of developers as it evolves.
• Cross-Platform Availability
  Vast is available today as a desktop app for Mac and Linux. A Windows version is just around the corner, launching in the next two weeks.

A Vision for the Future

The vision for Vast isn’t just about making programming faster—it’s about empowering developers. It’s about giving programmers a platform that removes the barriers of repetition and tedium while preserving the joy and creativity of coding.

Vast also challenges the notion that significant change has to come with significant compromise. Developers don’t have to choose between speed and control. They don’t have to accept the trade-offs of traditional low-code platforms.

The industry is long overdue for a shift—a way to rethink how software is built while staying true to the principles that make programming such a powerful force. Vast isn’t just a low-code platform. It’s a movement to redefine what programming can be in the age of AI and automation.

An Invitation

Today, we’re thrilled to share the first step in this journey with the launch of Vast. Whether you’re a junior developer looking for tools to accelerate your growth or a seasoned engineer tired of reinventing the wheel, Vast is built for you.

This is just the beginning. The future of programming is here, and we’re excited to be a part of it.

Download Vast Studio today, check out the documentation or join the community on Discord.

Let’s make programming everything it was meant to be - and so much more!

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