> Markdown version of [/videos/100534-you-are-the-developer-from-dx-to-ax-with-humans-in-mind](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100534-you-are-the-developer-from-dx-to-ax-with-humans-in-mind). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

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# You are the developer. From DX to AX with humans in mind.

Netlify CEO Matt Biilmann warns that raw syntax knowledge is trending toward zero. Discover why your platform must pivot from Developer Experience to Agent Experience.

- **Speakers:** [Matt Biilmann](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@matt-biilmann)
- **Event:** World Congress 2026 North America
- **Published:** September 25, 2026
- **Duration:** 27:21
- **URL:** https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100534-you-are-the-developer-from-dx-to-ax-with-humans-in-mind

## Summary

As AI code generation accelerates, the traditional developer identity—centered on holding complex mental models of codebases and mastering specific syntax—is giving way to what Netlify CEO Matt Biilmann calls "preemptive nostalgia." However, rather than replacing software engineers, AI is elevating the demand for deep systems thinking and robust architectural design. Biilmann illustrates this by detailing how he architected a massive-scale Git storage system using Claude and Codex without manually writing the code. This transition proves that while raw syntax implementation knowledge trends toward zero, domain expertise and high-level software architecture are becoming exponentially more valuable.

This democratization of software creation empowers non-technical domain experts, such as HR professionals, to build internal tools directly rather than relying on standard SaaS solutions. To support this new ecosystem, platform engineering must fundamentally pivot from focusing on Developer Experience (DX) to Agent Experience (AX). Building a robust AX is a distinct discipline requiring four foundational pillars: managing agent access and anonymous identities, providing context through standards like the model context protocol, equipping agents with tailored CLI tools, and orchestrating long-running cloud agents across micro VMs.

To measure and iterate on this paradigm, Netlify open-sourced Axis, an evaluation framework designed to benchmark how effectively AI agents navigate platforms and utilize custom skills. Ultimately, AI will not replace the engineering discipline; instead, it reshapes workflows around agent loops and AI factories. For developers willing to embrace constant change and collaborate with probabilistic engines, the opportunity to scale software creation and shape the future of domain-driven internal tooling has never been more expansive.

**Keywords:** agent experience, developer experience, ai code generation, software architecture design, domain expert developers, model context protocol, agent access management, internal tool development, saas replacement strategies, git storage architecture, axis evaluation framework, agent orchestration, probabilistic engines, cloud agent deployment

## Chapters

1. **Evolution of software development and building through organizational culture** (00:12) — Moving from direct coding and emerging web architectures to scaling products by nurturing teams and workflows.
1. **Navigating the transition to AI assisted software development** (04:02) — Shifting from building mental models of codebases to guiding probabilistic models through targeted prompting.
1. **Architecting highly scalable infrastructure using AI coding agents** (05:53) — Foundational software engineering knowledge remains crucial for designing distributed systems decoupled from direct implementation details.
1. **Redefining developer value from syntax to structural domain expertise** (09:36) — As the mechanical implementation of software trends toward zero value, architectural and domain knowledge become paramount.
1. **Empowering domain experts to build functional internal business applications** (12:06) — Employees outside engineering can directly prompt agents to construct workflows while collaborating with developers for security.
1. **Shifting platform design from developer experience to agent experience** (15:24) — Tooling must evolve to provide seamless and holistic interfaces for AI models acting on behalf of users.
1. **Core pillars of designing platforms for automated agent access** (17:46) — Successful agent integration requires anonymous access flows, rich context provision, specialized tools, and robust cloud orchestration.
1. **Evaluating and measuring agent interactions using open source frameworks** (21:37) — Running deterministic scenarios against various models helps evaluate token spend and iterative improvements to agent tools.
1. **The increasing demand for software engineers in AI environments** (23:22) — Organizations will rely heavily on developers to integrate automated systems and ensure the robustness of internally generated applications.
1. **Embracing constant change as a fundamental developer skill set** (25:26) — Continuous learning and adapting to new paradigms are essential for engineers to actively shape the future of technology.

## Related Moments

- [The transforming role of developers in the AI era](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100337-user-1st-technology-2nd-stop-building-ai-nobody-uses-start-delivering-real-business-outcomes) (from "User 1st! Technology 2nd! Stop building AI nobody uses - start delivering real business outcomes")
- [The evolving role of software engineers alongside agents](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100132-the-agent-interface-layer-protocols-tools-and-trust-boundaries) (from "The Agent Interface Layer: Protocols, Tools and Trust Boundaries")
- [The evolving role of human developers managing agents](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100613-rethinking-developer-tools-for-the-agent-era) (from "Rethinking Developer Tools for the Agent Era")
- [Evolving the developer role beyond writing code syntax](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100549-building-the-agentic-software-factory) (from "Building the Agentic Software Factory")
- [Redefining developer roles and software architecture requirements](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2131-evals-vs-evil-ai-and-package-security-laurie-voss) (from "Evals vs. Evil - AI and Package Security - Laurie Voss")
- [Comparing agent experience with traditional developer experience](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100613-rethinking-developer-tools-for-the-agent-era) (from "Rethinking Developer Tools for the Agent Era")

## Related Articles

- [What is Agentic Programming and Why Should Developers Care?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/625-what-is-agentic-programming-and-why-should-developers-care)
- [What is Software Engineering in the Age of AI?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/640-what-is-software-engineering-in-the-age-of-ai)
- [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift)
- [Exploring AI: Opportunities and Risks for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/522-exploring-ai-opportunities-and-risks-for-developers)

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