Build logs, guides, and field notes
What shipped, what broke, and what it really cost — from running production AI systems.
Prefer this site in Google
Mark omidsaffari.com as preferred and Google lifts it in Top Stories, AI Overviews and AI Mode for you.
- 142
- AI
- Models, agents, coding assistants, image, video, voice 124
- Build
- Ship with AI when you're not an engineer: vibe-coding, app/SaaS builders, automation, MCP, just-enough infra 90
- Design
- For designers, brand owners, creative directors 117
- Growth
- AI for marketing, SEO/GEO, content engines, and the operator-business work of turning audience into revenue 4
- Playbooks
- AI for your niche: the workflows that actually move, tool by tool, priced 22
- Explained
- What shipped, explained: every real release, decoded for the people who use it 0
- Lab
- The agent journey, entry by entry: what shipped, what broke, what was decided, in the ventures I run
Latest articlesWhat shipped, what broke, and what it really cost — from running production AI systems.
Vercel Flat Rate CDN Makes Traffic Bills Predictable
Vercel Pro can use fixed monthly CDN tiers. Learn what spike protection covers, when the next bill rises, and which workloads are excluded.Sep 9, 2026Explained
OmniSEO Review for Small Agencies
Evaluate OmniSEO for a small agency: prompt coverage, citation checks, client reporting, exports, and the plan limits that shape the purchase.Sep 9, 2026Growth
How to Use ChatGPT Sketch on Mobile
Turn a rough phone sketch into a usable image in ChatGPT, then revise, save, and share it with the current mobile controls.
Sep 9, 2026Design
Cut Vercel Build Costs With Basic Machines
Vercel Pro teams can choose Basic builds. Compare rates, build duration, and queue time before switching smaller apps.Sep 9, 2026Explained
How to Create a Punch List From Photos With AI
Turn photo evidence in an inspection report into a checked punch list, with room labels, trade assignments, and a review before handoff.Sep 9, 2026Growth
Best AI Tools for Submittal Spec Checking
Compare AI tools that check submittals against project specs, with source citations, revision handling, file support, and trial checks.Sep 9, 2026AI
VetGeni vs ScribbleVet
Compare VetGeni and ScribbleVet for clinic note workflows, PIMS transfer, team seats, costs, and the checks to make before switching.Sep 8, 2026AI
InspectMind AI Review
Evaluate InspectMind AI for drawing checks, cited findings, revision review, pricing visibility, and the limits a project team should test.Sep 8, 2026AI
Claude Managed Agents Bring Config Changes Into Review
Claude ant apply puts agent setup in versioned files. See what teams can review, how the lockfile works, and the CI status-code catch.Sep 8, 2026Explained
BuildSync vs SpecLens
Compare BuildSync and SpecLens by submittal checks, source citations, supported files, integrations, and the procurement work each fits.Sep 8, 2026AI108–131 / 499
Best Voice Controlled AI Coding Agents 2026
Seven voice controlled coding agents compared on controls, privacy, platforms, and total monthly cost, with live pricing verified August 2026.Aug 26, 2026Build
Can AI Agents Process Sensitive Documents Locally 2026
Yes. Local-first AI agents can analyze sensitive files on-device. See the privacy boundary, cost math, best use cases, and what to build.Aug 26, 2026AI
Best MCP Identity and Access Management Tools 2026
Nine MCP IAM tools ranked by layer, deployment fit, live price, and implementation wall. Includes August 2026 cost math and a Monday rollout plan.Aug 26, 2026Build
Perplexity Portable Computer Alternatives for On-Premise AI Agents 2026
Seven on-premise AI agent alternatives compared on privacy, deployment effort, live pricing, and the hardware-to-cloud break-even point.Aug 26, 2026AI
Best AI Video Platforms With Scene Level Editing 2026
Six AI video platforms ranked by scene-level control, live pricing, revision cost, continuity, and the exact workflow each one can truly edit.Aug 25, 2026Design
DGX Spark vs Mac mini M6 for Local AI Agents 2026
DGX Spark wins on model capacity, CUDA, and a turnkey local Perplexity agent; Mac mini M6 wins on solo-agent cost and everyday desktop utility.Aug 25, 2026AI
Best AI Coding Agents With Mobile Remote Control 2026
Compare Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Happy, and Replit for phone-started coding, current pricing, security, and workflow fit.Aug 25, 2026Build
GitHub Copilot Alternatives With Local Model Support 2026
Six GitHub Copilot alternatives with local models, verified 2026 prices, hardware limits, privacy tradeoffs, and a clear pick for each team.Aug 25, 2026Build
Best AI Video Generators With ProRes Export 2026
Runway, Premiere, ElevenLabs, and Luma ranked by native ProRes path, live pricing, credit cost, codec limits, and production handoffs.Aug 25, 2026Design
Open Source Coding Agents That Use Existing Subscriptions 2026
Eight open-source coding agents can reuse plans you already pay for. Compare OpenCode, fx, goose, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Cline, Kilo Code, and Aider.Aug 25, 2026Build
Sesame Pricing (2026): Free for Now, No Paid Plan Yet
Sesame is free in its 2026 preview. See the 30-minute call cap, data-training tradeoff, missing paid plan, and when ChatGPT or Gemini wins.Aug 25, 2026AI
Best AI Model Gateways for Reducing Inference Costs 2026
Compare six AI model gateways by live 2026 pricing, cache savings, fees, and the exact workload that makes Vercel, LiteLLM, or Cloudflare win.Aug 24, 2026AI
Wan 3.0 vs Seedance 2.5 Cost per 30 Second Video
Wan 3.0 costs $1.20 vs Seedance 2.5 at $3.60 for the same 30-second 720p render on Topview. See the retry crossover and pick the right model.Aug 24, 2026Design
Best MCP Security Platforms for Enterprise Agents 2026
Ranked MCP security platforms for enterprise agents, with verified controls, pricing status, identity gaps, and a $72K buy-versus-build line.Aug 24, 2026Build
LTX Studio Pricing (2026): Commercial Use Starts at $35
LTX Studio costs $0 to $125 monthly. See current credits, commercial rights, API costs, hidden limits, and the plan that fits real video work.Aug 24, 2026Design
Best AI Agent Harnesses for Long Horizon Tasks 2026
Five AI agent harnesses ranked for durable state, recovery, verification, and cost, with live 2026 pricing and the AVO consequence.Aug 24, 2026Build
AI Agent API Budget Controls 2026
OpenAI now shows cost by API key and can stop project or organization traffic at a monthly cap. Here is the business case, use cases, and limits.Aug 24, 2026AI
Best AI Coding Agents With Browser Testing 2026
Seven browser-testing coding agents ranked by proof, price, and workflow, verified August 2026.Aug 23, 2026Build
AI App Connector Authentication for Agent Builders 2026
Vercel Connect moves agent authentication into reusable team connectors. See the real cost math, best workflows, limits, and Monday pilot.Aug 23, 2026Build
Ollama Pricing (2026): Free Local, $20 Pro, $125 Teams
Ollama costs $0 locally, $20/month for Pro, and $125/month minimum for Team. See current limits, overages, hardware break-even, and who should pay.Aug 23, 2026AI
Pika Speech vs ElevenLabs Cost 2026
Pika Speech costs $0.01/min plus $10/month. See when it beats ElevenLabs, and why streaming, language coverage, and cloning can reverse the choice.Aug 22, 2026AI
Best Multimodal AI Models for Computer Use Agents 2026
Compare GPT-5.6 Sol, Claude Opus 5, Gemini 3.7 Flash, and DeepSeek Vision on task cost, safety, implementation, and fit.Aug 22, 2026AI
Together AI Pricing (2026): PTUs Buy Capacity, Not Savings
Together AI pricing, verified August 2026: serverless token rates, $0.05 PTUs, GPU costs, hidden fees, break-evens, and alternatives.Aug 22, 2026AI
Best Low Cost AI Models for Coding Agents 2026
Compare GPT-5.6 Luna, DeepSeek V4 Flash, Gemini 3.7 Flash, and Claude Haiku 4.5 by live prices, retry cost, and coding-agent fit.Aug 22, 2026BuildNewsletter
One letter, every Sunday.Working systems, not hot takes.
Weekly. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.