Agentic Engineering, Clearly Explained in 50 Min | Matt Van Horn

Matt has no CS degree, doesn’t know how to code, and doesn’t even read the plans that AI writes. Despite this, he’s built an incredible open source track record with projects like last30days (#1 trending on GitHub with 40K+ stars) and Printing Press (a tool that lets agents use any website or app). Matt has been a huge inspiration for my AI builder journey, and I think you’ll feel the same after watching our conversation.Matt and I talked about:(00:00) "I don't read code and the plans are for AI"(01:19) Compound Engineering: Matt’s go-to agentic loop(07:07) How Matt builds without a CS degree or reading code(11:18) Printing Press: Turning any website into an agent CLI(15:38) How Printing Press finds hidden APIs and GitHub projects(22:44) Why CLI + skill beats MCP for agent workflows(32:49) How Matt contributes to Python, Go, and other top repos(44:28) Why Matt is still afraid to launch finished projectsThanks to our sponsors:Linear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftWispr Flow: 4x faster than typing with your voice https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangRiverside: All-in-one AI studio for podcasts and video https://creators.riverside.com/PeterYang📌 Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/the-ai-agent-system-behind-this-non-technical-founder-matt-van-horn📌 Get my personal AI operating system with all my skills and prompts: https://www.behindthecraft.com/Where to find Matt:X: https://x.com/mvanhornGitHub: https://github.com/mvanhornPrinting Press: https://printingpress.devlast30days: https://github.com/mvanhorn/last30days-skillSubscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!

Kun is an ex-L8 principal engineer at Meta and Microsoft who now ships 40 PRs a day without manually reviewing code. In our episode, he walked through the free tools he built to make that possible: Lavish for visual planning in HTML artifacts, Treehouse for parallel agents, and No Mistakes for catching AI coding errors before they make it to production.Kun and I talked about:(00:00) Why he doesn't review code anymore(01:04) Agentic engineering: Plan, code, validate(06:22) Demo: Fixing an AI tutor screen with agents(08:40) Demo: Why HTML is better than markdown for planning(19:53) How to turn a rough idea into an AI-ready spec(23:21) How Kun runs 20-30 agents in parallel(32:04) No Mistakes: Kun's free AI code review tool(45:19) What Kun checks before merging AI-written code(50:18) How to get better at agentic engineeringThanks to our sponsors:Linear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftWispr Flow: 4x faster than typing with your voice https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangRiverside: All-in-one AI studio for podcasts and video https://creators.riverside.com/PeterYang📌 Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/how-this-ex-meta-l8-engineer-ships-40-prs-a-day-with-ai-kun-chen📌 Get my personal AI operating system with all my skills and prompts: https://www.behindthecraft.com/Where to find Kun:GitHub: https://github.com/kunchenguidX: https://x.com/kunchenguidKun's free tools from the episode:Lavish (HTML editor): https://github.com/kunchenguid/lavish-axiTreehouse: https://github.com/kunchenguid/treehouseNo Mistakes (AI code review): https://github.com/kunchenguid/no-mistakesSubscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!

Josh sold his last startup for $4M and is now building 5 products solo with agents. He showed me his exact AI skills stack, including a 4-step /build skill, an /adversarial-code-review skill where he pits Opus against GPT, a /but-for-real skill that makes the AI catch its own mistakes, and a /learnings skill that improves AI’s output over time. Josh has been a solo builder for 25 years and it was fascinating to watch how he works.Josh and I talked about:(00:00) Why launching fast beats months of planning(01:02) A tour of the 5 AI products Josh built solo(05:22) /build skill: Research, plan, track, implement(10:52) /adversarial-code-review skill: Getting GPT to review Opus' code(16:02) /learnings skill: Make AI update its own CLAUDE.md(16:47) /but-for-real skill: Make AI fix its own mistakes(19:11) Live demo: How to design non AI slop websites(28:55) Advice for builders without technical experienceThanks to our sponsors:Oceans: Hire AI-native EAs http://oceanstalent.com/peterWispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangLinear: The AI agent platform for modern teams. https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/the-exact-ai-skills-this-solo-founder-uses-josh-pigfordGet my personal AI operating system with all my skills and prompts: https://www.behindthecraft.com/Where to find Josh:X: https://x.com/ShpigfordWebsite: https://initialcommit.co/Subscribe to this channel — more interviews coming soon!

Ryan is a serial founder who’s building his latest startup solo with only AI agents. It was fascinating to watch him demo the exact skills and routines he uses to get OpenClaw, Codex, and Devin to manage his inbox and calendar, do sales outreach, and build features while he sleeps.Ryan and I talked about:(00:00) Agents are just cron jobs and text markdown files(02:25) Demo: How Ryan set up OpenClaw to be his AI chief of staff(08:14) The setting most people get wrong in OpenClaw(13:46) How to onboard your agent like you would an employee(17:06) The cron job that books cold meetings while Ryan sleeps(24:36) Why Ryan prefers Devin over other AI coding tools(28:33) Demo: How Ryan ships 10 PRs a day solo(33:08) Google Ads agencies and a $6K/month designer(37:11) Why building the system is the real startup workThanks to our sponsors:Oceans: Hire AI-native EAs http://oceanstalent.com/peterWispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangLinear: The AI agent platform for modern teams. https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/how-this-5x-founder-runs-his-startup-solo-with-ai-agents-ryan-carsonWhere to find Ryan:X: https://x.com/ryancarsonWebsite: https://untangle.us/Subscribe to this channel — more interviews coming soon!

Alex is a research PM at Anthropic building the next Claude model. He gave me a rare inside look at how the research team operates — including how they turn user feedback into model training, how they decide which capabilities to prioritize, and how they improve Claude’s personality. If you’re wondering how frontier model development actually works, then this interview is a must watch.Alex and I talked about:(00:00) How Anthropic treats each new model as a product(04:58) Building adaptive thinking into Claude(07:07) Why Claude is starting to dream(11:15) "If it's not a one-way door, then it's essentially free"(15:40) How Alex uses Claude Cowork to pressure test his docs(17:05) Inside Anthropic's eval process for new models(21:02) How Anthropic trains Claude's character(32:39) The consciousness question Anthropic is quietly working onThanks to our sponsors:Oceans: Hire AI-native EAs http://oceanstalent.com/peterWispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/inside-how-anthropic-is-building-the-next-claudeWhere to find Alex:X: https://x.com/alexalbert__Website: alexalbert.me📌 Subscribe to this channel — more interviews coming soon!

Moritz is an AI founder who built a personal OS in Claude Code to manage his emails, create content, and even buy groceries. In this episode, he walks through everything you need to set up your own: folder structure, tools, memory loops, skills, and routines. We also talked about the pros and cons of OpenClaw vs. Claude Code.Moritz and I talked about:(00:00) The honest tradeoffs: OpenClaw vs. Claude Code(09:03) Why Moritz switched to Claude Code(15:40) The folder structure that runs Moritz's entire OS(20:03) The memory loop that makes Claude Code remember everything(23:47) CLI vs. MCP vs. API: which to pick and why it matters(26:02) Skills walkthrough: automated grocery runs and video uploads(29:03) Local vs. remote routines (and when to use each)(31:51) The full content pipeline from idea to posted video(41:43) Tips to start building your first personal OSThanks to our sponsors:Linear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftWispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangOceans: Hire AI-native EAs http://oceanstalent.com/peterGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/build-a-claude-code-personal-os-step-by-step-moritzWhere to find Moritz:X: https://x.com/moritzkrembWebsite: https://joinagentos.com/Subscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!

Ravi is a top AI instructor and former CPO of Tinder. In our episode, he did a live demo of using his 3-layer context engineering system (functional, visual, data) to build a beautiful music app instead of the usual AI slop. You’ll never build with AI the same way again after learning about Ravi’s approach.Ravi and I talked about:(00:00) Why most AI prototypes feel like slop(01:08) Context engineering, explained from first principles(05:12) Layer 1 demo: Functional context (09:38) Layer 2 demo: Visual context (13:31) Layer 3 demo: Data context(15:47) Building a custom MCP server in Claude Code(19:54) The full stack prompt: all 3 layers in one shot(24:21) Why separating the data layer is the real unlock(28:59) Should PMs prototype or just ship to production?(33:51) Where PRDs still fit in AI native product developmentThanks to our sponsors:Wispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangLinear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: The AI meeting notes app that saves you hours. https://granola.ai/peter📌 Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/three-layer-system-for-context-engineering-ravi-mehtaWhere to find Ravi:X: https://x.com/ravi_mehtaWebsite: https://www.ravi-mehta.com/Subscribe to this channel — more interviews coming soon!

Tibo is a solo founder making $1M+ a month (!) after bootstrapping 5 AI products. I got him to walk through his exact playbook for validating ideas fast, acquiring users, and pricing AI products. If you want to bootstrap an AI business from scratch, this interview is a must watch.Tibo and I talked about:(00:00) The right mindset for solo AI founders(04:48) Tibo's 5-step playbook to reach $1M/month(09:55) The product pivot that unlocked $600K/month(13:08) Why you should charge right away(20:50) The acquisition channel everyone says is dead (it's not)(26:58) Running 5 businesses without a real team(36:34) How to price your AI product(37:20) What's a good churn rate for AI products?(40:16) 9 products failed. The 10th hit $600K/monthThanks to our sponsors:Wispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangLinear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: The AI meeting notes app that saves you hours. https://granola.ai/peter📌 Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/how-this-solo-founder-bootstrapped-to-1m-a-month-tibo-louis-lucasWhere to find Tibo:X: https://x.com/tibo_makerWebsite: https://www.revid.ai/Subscribe to this channel — more interviews coming soon!

Ryan is the VP of Product at Mercury, my favorite fintech product. We covered three things that’s on every AI builder’s mind — how to build a Claude Code second brain, how to make your product agent-ready with APIs and MCPs, and what Mercury’s data reveals about OpenAI and Anthropic’s race for the enterprise.Ryan and I talked about:(00:00) Why APIs and MCPs are the primary interface(04:40) How to get your product agent ready(07:51) Will MCPs cannibalize your app DAU?(10:36) How to decide between MCPs and CLIs(13:10) Inside Ryan's Claude Code second brain(18:40) Getting AI to coach you after every meeting(20:46) Mercury data: Are startups switching to Anthropic?(23:05) The product development process will never be the sameThanks to our sponsors:Wispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangLinear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: The AI meeting notes app that saves you hours. https://granola.ai/peterGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/how-to-build-for-ai-agents-and-a-claude-code-second-brainWhere to find Ryan:X: https://x.com/rywiggsWebsite: https://mercury.comSubscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!

Dylan is the co-founder and CEO of Figma. I asked him some tough questions on whether AI can learn taste, how he plans to compete with AI startups, and whether design systems constrain creativity. Two thirds of Figma users are now non-designers and it was also super interesting to hear Dylan talk about where he’s taking Figma next.We talked about:(00:00) Taste, craft, and point of view: the 3 skills AI can't replace(05:33) Can AI agents actually learn design taste?(13:02) Figma MCP to go from design to code and back(17:42) What vibe coding gets wrong about design(22:17) Two thirds of Figma users are now non-designers(29:13) The one trait Dylan hires for over AI fluency(32:01) Why Dylan thinks design is the new code(36:32) Dylan's personal AI workflow for writing and ideationThanks to our sponsors:Linear: AI agents for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: AI meeting notes that don't suck https://granola.ai/peterReplit: From 0 to full stack app in 2 min https://replit.com/?utm_source=creator&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=creator_program&utm_content=peteryang📌 Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/figma-ceo-on-how-anyone-can-get-good-at-design-in-ai-dylan-fieldWhere to find Dylan:X: https://x.com/zoinkWebsite: https://github.com/figma/mcp-server-guideSubscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!