Ramp Introduces AI Coding Assistant and New Developer Tools to Its Platform

Ramp Launches Inspect: A New Era in AI Coding Agents

In a significant leap for developer experience, spend management platform provider Ramp has unveiled Ramp Inspect, a cutting-edge AI coding agent, as part of its expanding accounting platform. This initiative aligns with a growing trend among companies to develop domain-specific coding assistants, aiming to create a more engaging and efficient environment for developers in the fintech sector.

The Developer-Centric Approach

The importance of appealing to developers in the fintech space cannot be overstated. As Zach Bruggeman, a staff software engineer at Ramp, noted, “CFOs might sign contracts, but it’s the engineering teams that determine implementation.” This sentiment echoes a broader philosophy within fintech, where the user experience for developers can often dictate a company’s success. Companies like Stripe have exemplified this strategy, shaping their ecosystem to be developer-friendly.

In light of this, Ramp Inspect enters the arena, joining similar initiatives such as Block’s “Goose,” an AI coding agent designed for diverse developer skill levels. Just as Block has rolled out Goose to its sprawling workforce, Ramp aims to integrate Inspect seamlessly within its team, signaling its commitment to enhancing developer capabilities.

Building with Context

Unlike many traditional coding agents, Inspect doesn’t just generate code; it ensures validation by leveraging comprehensive context and the necessary tools. As detailed by Ramp engineers Bruggeman, Jason Quense, and Rahul Sengottuvelu, Inspect possesses the ability to run backend tests, review telemetry, and visually authenticate its work with screenshots for frontend deployments. This innovative self-verification sets Inspect apart, pushing the boundaries of what AI coding agents can achieve.

The Cloud Advantage

One standout feature of Ramp Inspect is its fully cloud-hosted design, which eliminates the common barriers associated with local coding environments. “With Inspect, there’s no local setup required,” Bruggeman emphasized. This accessibility promotes collaboration, enabling even non-engineers to harness the tool efficiently. Built in partnership with OpenCode, Modal, and Cloudflare, Inspect spins up a complete virtual machine in seconds, empowering developers to work swiftly without the usual setup time.

Open-Source Opportunity

Ramp has taken a bold step by open-sourcing the entire blueprint for Inspect, inviting other organizations to build their own iterations. Bruggeman encouraged developers to utilize Ramp’s specifications to design their ideal coding agents. This community-driven approach highlights Ramp’s vision of democratizing access to sophisticated coding tools and fostering innovation across the industry.

Beyond Traditional Tools

With Inspect, Ramp is challenging the norm in enterprise software development by creating tools that do not simply layer AI onto existing architectures. Bruggeman remarked, “Legacy players are trying to integrate AI into outdated systems, while we’re building it in from day one.” This design philosophy aims to alleviate the challenges faced by product managers, designers, and other non-engineers, who often encounter hurdles when trying to implement their ideas due to coding barriers.

Diverse Use Cases

The application of Ramp Inspect extends far beyond simple code generation. Product managers are already utilizing the agent during quality assurance sessions to make live adjustments rather than relying on traditional ticketing systems. Additionally, designers are finding value in the collaborative features offered by Inspect, allowing them to build prototypes and engage more effectively with engineering teams.

Bruggeman acknowledged a broader movement towards enhanced tooling in enterprise software, stating that Ramp’s focus on maintainable and controlled in-house solutions remains paramount. “To ensure productivity and efficiency, building your tools is key,” he added.

Real-World Gains

The impact of Ramp Inspect is becoming increasingly tangible—recently, 30% of merged pull requests within Ramp were generated by the AI agent. Bruggeman emphasizes that these contributions enhance productivity rather than displace human roles, addressing backlog changes that typically hinder progress. Notably, every submission generated by Inspect undergoes human review before being merged, maintaining high code quality despite advances in automation.

A Future-Forward Strategy

The launch of Ramp Inspect is integral to Ramp’s broader AI strategy. With previous initiatives focusing on automating expense policies, accounts payable, and invoice processing, Inspect adds another layer to their innovation efforts. The unveiling of Ramp Sheets, an AI-powered spreadsheet tool, further exemplifies Ramp’s ambition to remain at the cutting edge of AI advancements, emphasizing internal tooling just as much as customer-facing products.

By providing developers with robust, context-aware tools like Ramp Inspect, the company is indeed setting high standards for productivity, collaboration, and efficiency in fintech software development.