Code agents–AI platforms that generate and deploy code–are transforming development from a slow, manual process into something that feels mythical just a year ago. Type a prompt, get a working app.
Platforms like Windsurf, Bolt, and Builder.io are leading this wave, making development faster and more accessible than ever. But for all the magic, there’s still friction. Especially between generating and actually shipping code.
This friction has been felt by everyone from AI researchers to platform founders. Andrej Karpathy, who coined the term “vibe coding,” experienced this firsthand: “The code was the easy part of vibe coding… it took me a week to make it real.”
Join Netlify and Builder.io on July 31st for a live demo using Fusion, an AI-powered visual development environment, learn how to deploy using the Netlify MCP, and how AI tools like Fusion can accelerate your process from code to production.
Fixing the AI agent deployment bottleneck
The gap between AI-generated code and live applications is real and frustrating. Your AI can generate a complete web application in seconds, but getting that code live and shareable? That’s where things get complicated.
After powering millions of deployments across dozens of AI platforms, we’ve identified the key patterns that separate successful code agent infrastructure from the rest.
Three deployment models that actually work
Through working with platforms from early-stage startups to companies handling millions of users, we’ve seen three primary approaches to code agent deployment:
| Model | Example | User flow | URL format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anonymous + claim | Bolt | Generate → Deploy → Claim within timeframe | random-id.netlify.app | Viral sharing, minimal friction, early-stage platforms |
| Hybrid | Windsurf | Generate → Deploy to branded URL OR connect account | appname.windsurf.build | Brand control + user flexibility, growing platforms |
| White-label | Enterprise platforms | Generate → Deploy → Platform owns forever | appname.yourplatform.com | Complete control, enterprise, vertical tools |
What we’ve learned from millions of AI codegen deployments
When Bolt scaled from hundreds to millions of deployments, specific infrastructure challenges emerged that generic hosting solutions couldn’t handle.
The burst traffic problem
Code agents create unique traffic patterns—massive spikes when platforms are featured on social media or in developer communities. Unlike traditional web traffic, code agent deployments happen in concentrated bursts.
What works: Infrastructure that can scale instantly without warning. When a code agent platform goes viral, deployments can jump from 100/hour to 10,000/hour within minutes. Bolt’s millions of deployments prove this approach works at scale.
Framework flexibility at scale
AI-generated code often chooses between frameworks creating project structures that may break more traditional, rigid build patterns. At scale, even a 1% failure rate means hundreds of frustrated users daily.
What works: Build systems designed specifically for AI-generated code patterns, with fallbacks that can handle non-standard project structures. AI agents don’t always follow human conventions.
Cleanup becomes critical
Without proper cleanup strategies, costs can spiral. Windsurf implements a tiered cleanup approach. Giving users 1 hour to claim for dynamic apps using functions or 7 days for static sites.
What works: Automated cleanup tied to app complexity and resource usage, not just time-based deletion. Windsurf’s model shows how different app types need different cleanup schedules: static sites are cheap to host longer, while function-powered apps need faster cleanup to manage resources.
The infrastructure behind it all
Behind every smooth code agent experience is infrastructure specifically designed for AI-generated workloads:
API-first infrastructure: Every deployment action available programmatically, designed for automated workflows rather than human interfaces.
Instant deployment pipeline: Sub-2-second deployments optimized for the rapid iteration cycles of AI development.
Zero config builds: Automatic framework recognition and optimization for 40+ frontend frameworks without configuration.
Fullstack platform primitives: This is where most hosting providers fall short. Code agents don’t just generate static sites—they create everything from simple landing pages to complex fullstack applications. Netlify provides the complete stack with compute and storage.
User ownership flexibility: Support for anonymous, claimed, and white-label deployment models within the same infrastructure.
Built-In security: Automatic secret scanning catches hardcoded credentials before deployment—critical for AI-generated code that often contains exposed API keys.
Start building
The future of development is being written by code agents, and the infrastructure to support them is available today. As AI becomes more capable and autonomous, the infrastructure supporting these platforms needs to evolve too. We’re investing heavily in what we call “Agent Experience” (AX). Infrastructure designed not only for human developers, but for AI agents and automated workflows.
Whether you’re building the next breakthrough in AI development or scaling an existing platform, we’re here to help you bridge the gap from prompt to production.
Partner with us
We’re actively partnering with code agent platforms of all sizes, offering everything from technical integration support to revenue sharing opportunities.
Our AI partner program provides infrastructure that scales without friction, dedicated support for AI-specific challenges, and opportunities for co-marketing and product input.
Explore our code agent APIs and see how straight forward integration can be, or get in touch with our partnerships team to discuss a long-term strategy.
Learn more about making Netlify the deploy agent for your agent on our code agents page.
