https://sixhelix.com/blog Stories and guides from SixHelix on AI-native software development and output-based pricing. en-us Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:41:05 GMT https://sixhelix.com/blog/ai-tools-vs-custom-software https://sixhelix.com/blog/ai-tools-vs-custom-software Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT ChatGPT and Copilot are powerful — but they don't connect to your data or run your workflows reliably. Custom software does, but doesn't reason. The combination is what actually automates a business. https://sixhelix.com/blog/buy-off-the-shelf-or-build-custom https://sixhelix.com/blog/buy-off-the-shelf-or-build-custom Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Buy vs. build is a cost question, not a philosophy question. Here's a practical framework for comparing the total cost of off-the-shelf SaaS against custom software — and when each approach actually wins. https://sixhelix.com/blog/excel-vs-custom-software https://sixhelix.com/blog/excel-vs-custom-software Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Excel is a genuinely powerful tool — until it becomes the source of truth for operational data, multiple people need to use it simultaneously, or errors in it start costing you money. Here's when to replace it. https://sixhelix.com/blog/github-copilot-vs-claude-code-vs-cursor https://sixhelix.com/blog/github-copilot-vs-claude-code-vs-cursor Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, and Cursor are the leading AI coding assistants in 2026. Here's an honest breakdown of what each does well, where it falls short, and what this comparison means if you're a business owner buying software. https://sixhelix.com/blog/how-much-does-custom-software-cost https://sixhelix.com/blog/how-much-does-custom-software-cost Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Custom software for a small business ranges from $3,000 for a focused automation to $50,000+ for a full platform. Here's what drives the cost, how AI has changed the math, and what a realistic budget looks like in 2026. https://sixhelix.com/blog/it-outsourcing-vs-sixhelix https://sixhelix.com/blog/it-outsourcing-vs-sixhelix Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Traditional IT outsourcing bills for effort — hours, sprints, headcount. That single decision puts your incentives and your vendor's in direct opposition. Here's how SixHelix changes the contract. https://sixhelix.com/blog/offshore-vs-nearshore-vs-us-dev-firms https://sixhelix.com/blog/offshore-vs-nearshore-vs-us-dev-firms Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Offshore looks cheapest on the rate card but often isn't in total. Nearshore is a better middle ground. US-based has the highest rates but lowest overhead. Here's what actually determines outcomes — and why billing model matters more than geography. https://sixhelix.com/blog/outsourcing-vs-vibe-coding-vs-sixhelix https://sixhelix.com/blog/outsourcing-vs-vibe-coding-vs-sixhelix Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Three paths to custom software in 2026: traditional IT outsourcing, vibe-coding tools like Lovable and Replit, and SixHelix. An honest comparison of pricing models, risk, and who each option is actually built for. https://sixhelix.com/blog/problems-with-vibe-coding https://sixhelix.com/blog/problems-with-vibe-coding Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Vibe-coding is genuinely fast — but the output has characteristic failure modes that matter in production. Acceptance without specification, invisible technical debt, and a billing model that passes the risk to buyers. https://sixhelix.com/blog/replit-vs-lovable-vs-base44-vs-bolt-vs-v0 https://sixhelix.com/blog/replit-vs-lovable-vs-base44-vs-bolt-vs-v0 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Replit, Lovable, Base44, Bolt, and v0 all promise to build software from natural language. Here's what each one actually does well, where it breaks down, and whether any of them is the right choice for a business that needs delivered software. https://sixhelix.com/blog/software-project-timeline-smb https://sixhelix.com/blog/software-project-timeline-smb Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT A focused custom software project takes 2–6 weeks with a modern AI-native firm. Complex platforms take 2–4 months. Here's what each phase looks like and how to protect your timeline as a client. https://sixhelix.com/blog/vibe-coding-vs-sixhelix https://sixhelix.com/blog/vibe-coding-vs-sixhelix Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Vibe-coding is a productivity leap for builders — but for business buyers it quietly transfers all the risk. SixHelix wraps the same AI in fixed prices, committed dates, and payment on delivery. https://sixhelix.com/blog/what-is-sixhelix https://sixhelix.com/blog/what-is-sixhelix Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT What SixHelix is, the six commercial promises behind the name — pay by outcome, cost transparency, committed timelines, scope control, quality assurance, and long-term reliability. https://sixhelix.com/blog/when-do-you-need-custom-software https://sixhelix.com/blog/when-do-you-need-custom-software Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Not every business needs custom software — but many pay more in workarounds than a custom solution would cost. Here are the six clearest signals that it's time to build, and three situations where off-the-shelf is still the right call. https://sixhelix.com/blog/when-to-buy-saas-or-build-custom https://sixhelix.com/blog/when-to-buy-saas-or-build-custom Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT SaaS wins for generic horizontal workflows. Custom wins for proprietary operations, vertical-specific logic, and anywhere manual workarounds are eating your team's time. Here's how to draw the line.