Malleable software = solid bases + custom code
Summary
Michael Dubakov argues that the productivity-tools market will be won by malleable software that combines solid bases (databases, permissions, history) with custom code. He compares approaches from code-first to vibe-code, low-code, and assembled tools, advocating a 'solid base + custom code' model that supports collaboration, data integrity, and governance in the AI-enabled era. The piece also suggests AI lowers barriers to building tools and emphasizes the need for extension points to accommodate evolving team processes.