Coasty: The evolution of computer-use agent programming

The end of limitations in software automation

Business process automation has always hit an invisible wall: legacy software. Many industries, from healthcare to accounting, depend on desktop applications or web portals that lack functional APIs. Historically, the solution has been Robotic Process Automation (RPA), which records sequences of clicks. However, this method is extremely fragile when faced with minimal interface changes.

This is where Coasty comes in, a new platform that allows developers to deploy "computer-use" agents. Unlike RPA, these agents do not rely on code selectors or the DOM; they operate via computer vision, observing the screen and making decisions in real-time, just as a human would.

Beyond RPA: Visual intelligence in execution

The core of Coasty moves away from the rigidity of traditional macros. The agent observes the environment, executes an action, and, crucially, verifies the result before continuing. This feedback loop approach allows the system to recover from unexpected states, such as unforeseen pop-up windows or slow loading times in older applications.

The advantage of flexibility in programming

For developers, Coasty simplifies the creation of complex workflows through an intuitive API. There is no need to perform deep integration with each piece of software; it is enough to provide access to the environment (such as a virtual machine) and define the task in natural language. If you are interested in understanding how the perception of our capabilities influences development, I recommend reading about Programming and the Dunning-Kruger effect: Experts behind a video?.

"The agent observes the current state, decides which action to take, executes it, and observes the result before continuing," its founders explain.

Secure architecture for critical environments

The system allows for the definition of strict invariants. For example, an agent can be instructed to "never submit a form if the patient ID does not match." This is vital in sectors where a silent error is unacceptable. Furthermore, the system generates a structured log with screenshots and events, ensuring total traceability.

Although the use of these tools may seem simple, we sometimes fall into the temptation of unnecessarily complicating solutions; it is fundamental to remember Architecture vs. Problem: The danger of overengineering in programming before implementing complex solutions.

Key features of the platform:

• Isolated environments: Each task runs on a secure virtual machine.
• Active verification: Ability to re-plan in the face of errors.
• Flexible API: Compatible with javascript environments and other backend integrations.
• Visual auditing: Complete record of every action performed by the agent.

In conclusion, Coasty represents a step forward in how we interact with software that was not designed for the AI era. By prioritizing reliability and verification over blind speed, this technology promises to bridge the gap between legacy systems and modern automation.