Part 0 - Welcome to Beyond The Prompt — The Professional Software Blueprint AI Builders Need
Teaching how professional software really works, with practical examples for AI builders that want to move to next step.
Hi there,
I’m Daniel Bonilha — a professional software engineer with over 15 years of experience building and running production-grade software for several multi-million dollar companies, including critical systems in the financial industry. I’ve led the design, development, and deployment of real software — back when AI wasn’t there to help, and everything had to be engineered with precision.
Lately, I’ve been watching a fascinating shift: people from all kinds of backgrounds — nutritionists, engineers, therapists, educators — are now launching their own SaaS products using tools like Lovable, Supabase, Retool, Make, and AI-powered IDEs like Cursor and Widsurf. These platforms are incredibly powerful and accessible, making it easier than ever to bring an idea to life.
But here’s the catch: many of these products are built without a true understanding of what’s happening under the hood. Critical aspeects — databases, authentication, cloud infrastructure, security, scalability, and long-term maintainability — are often left to chance. That can put your users, your data, and your business at serious risk.
That’s exactly why I’m launching this newsletter: Beyond The Prompt.
What to Expect
Every week, I’ll break down how professional software really works — clearly, practically, and without unnecessary jargon. You’ll learn the principles that make systems secure, resilient, and scalable, even if you’re not a developer by training.
From infrastructure and databases to architecture decisions and AI prompt engineering, I’ll show you what happens behind the scenes.
I'll also share insights from my own SaaS, which is running in production today with real users and real constraints — built with the same principles I applied in financial systems that move millions. And yes, I used AI to help me build it — responsibly.
This is not theory. This is what it takes to build software that lasts.
If you’re ready to move beyond prototypes and start building real software you can trust — this newsletter is for you.
What’s Next
In the coming weeks, I’ll take you behind the scenes of a real, working SaaS — showing what it actually takes to build and operate professional-grade software.
Here’s a glimpse of what’s coming:
A Walk Through A Professional Production-Ready Software
Take a guided tour of the full infrastructure behind a real software — from cloud hosting and backend services to frontend, databases, mobile apps, and more. See what it really takes to build and run professional-grade software that's ready for real users.
Thanks for joining me on this journey — I’m excited to have you here.
Talk soon,
Daniel