The No Barrier Reef 🪸

[2 minute read]

Hey Reader,

Three things happened this week that I thought you should know about.

One is about how I’m picking my entire tech stack now. (This will affect you VERY SOON)
One is about Shopify giving merchants x-ray vision into your app’s behavior. And one is about listing images that are about to get a lot of apps in trouble.

Here’s what matters:

I’m Picking My Entire Tech Stack Based on One Thing: MCP Access

If I can give my AI agent access to an app and automate the usage, three things happen:

-almost no learning curve

-minimized usage time

-and fewer on-app features needed.

The only feature that matters is the API.

I’m migrating my email list from Kit to MailerLite right now. Not because MailerLite has better templates or a nicer UI. Because MailerLite has an official MCP with 60+ tools, a native n8n node, and API-based newsletter publishing.

Kit has none of that.

Open MCP access is going to be make-or-break for SaaS products. The apps that let AI agents in will win. The ones that don’t will get replaced by ones that do.

​Read it here​

Shopify Just Gave Merchants a Surveillance Dashboard for Apps

Merchants can now see exactly how many API requests each app makes, which apps touch sensitive customer data, and when permissions were updated.

Until now, merchants installed apps and mostly forgot what was happening under the hood. Now they’ll start asking questions like “Why does my countdown timer app have access to customer personal data?”

For founders who built clean, focused apps with tight permissions, this is a gift. If your app requests only what it needs and delivers obvious value relative to its footprint, you just got a competitive advantage you didn’t have to build.

​Read it here​

Shopify Just Killed the Canva Screenshot

New requirements: every listing image must show real UI. No logo-only slides. No stock graphics. Every image must be unique. Enforcement starts March 26.

You know those listings where all five screenshots are just big text over a gradient? Gone. And I love it.

Most founders will still get it wrong though. They’ll screenshot their dashboard, slap it into the listing, and call it done. Each screenshot should answer a specific question a merchant has while scrolling: What does setup look like? How does this show up in my store? What data will I actually see?

​Read it here​

Go look at your app’s listing and API permissions today. Both just became a lot more visible to merchants.

70% of Shopify installs come from search. If your listing isn’t built right, Reader, you’re losing those people before they even consider you.

And it’s not one thing. Positioning, listing, keywords, ads. They’re all sending different messages. Merchants land and leave. You don’t know why.

I audit everything and tell you exactly where the leak is. Positioning. App Store listing. Keyword gaps. Ads (if running). Clean report, two days. $750.

If you’re interested, reply to this email with AUDIT and I’ll share the details.

Ohad