Coding a FULL App with AI (You Won't Believe This)

Ever thought of creating an app using AI? Well, believe it or not, it’s totally possible and not as intimidating as it might seem. Let me walk you through the process of how I developed Comment Genie - an app designed to help YouTubers respond to comments using AI - in just three days. If you’re ready, grab your favorite beverage and let’s dive in!

Why Build Comment Genie?

As a passionate creator myself, I noticed the often-overwhelming amount of comments YouTubers have to go through. Responding to them takes time, and sometimes, you just want to relax and let something else handle the work. Enter Comment Genie! This nifty tool will allow the content creators to streamline the way they interact with their audience, thus creating more space for creativity and connection.

Ideation & Setup

Before we dive into the nuts and bolts, you need a plan. Here’s how the journey began.

Brainstorming with ChatGPT

I started the process by having a brainstorming session with ChatGPT. All I had was my smartphone and the ChatGPT app. The aim was simple – create an efficient app with Google login and a dashboard, showing the user's ten most recent YouTube comments. ChatGPT helped set the base for this journey with an encouraging French-accented pep talk – the perfect boost to kickstart the project!

Roadmap with Markdown

Once you have your ideas, it’s crucial to lay them out clearly. Using ChatGPT again, I was able to summarize my app and generate a roadmap in markdown format. It was brilliant! This roadmap allowed me to prioritize my next steps and focus on putting the pieces together systematically.

Choosing the Right Tech Stack

Moving forward, I needed to determine the ultimate tech stack. ChatGPT’s advanced model suggested a tech stack including front end, backend, and database specifications, offering a step-by-step guide to build each component.

Building the App

Now onto the build – here’s how the magic happened.

Setting up with Replit

I kicked off coding with Replit, a platform that let me store and edit my code in the cloud. This allowed for fast-paced iteration. Replits are like virtual computers storing your code. Choosing a Blank Repl, I started coding from scratch.

Bringing AI to the Table with Cursor

Cursor, combined with Cursor Composer, became my dynamic coding partner. The AI aided in autonomously building the app’s features. With clear prompts and the roadmap in view, I used Cursor Composer to create critical elements like a Google login page.

Styling with V0

If your app doesn't look good, no one’s gonna want to use it, right? That’s where V0 came in. It’s like having a front-end graphic designer on demand. Using V0, I got my YouTube comments dashboard looking sharp with dark mode styling and responsive design.

Logo Creation with Midjourney

No app is complete without a compelling logo. I hopped over to Midjourney’s AI to whip up a unique logo for Comment Genie. A few prompts and iterations later, I had the perfect mystical wizard logo that added a magical touch to the project.

Showing it Off

After the backend, frontend, database, and stylish design were linked up beautifully, it was time to deploy.

Deployment with Linode

For the app to go public, I needed to deploy it using Linode. This is an awesome platform for hosting both websites and apps. I spun up a Linode instance, setting the stage for beta testers eager to try out Comment Genie.

Continuous Improvement

Feedback is essential. One of the beta testers, Michael Wagner, provided insight that gave way to further improvements. He suggested that Comment Genie should recognize when he'd replied to comments via YouTube natively, and thanks to AI, implementing this feedback was seamless.

Wrapping Things Up

Creating and deploying Comment Genie with AI was an incredibly rewarding experience. You see, while AI does the heavy lifting, it continually requires human oversight and brainstorming. That’s where the real magic happens.

Join the NewForm Community!

If you’re pumped about using AI in your projects or wish to dive deeper into the inexhaustible world of web design, join us at NewForm. At NewForm, it’s all about honing your design skills and finding your niche in the market. Participate in monthly web design challenges, win cash prizes, and rub shoulders with industry leaders through exclusive sessions.

Whether you want to build, learn, or connect, NewForm is your platform. So, why wait? Take your first step into an exciting journey now, and let’s build something incredible together!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this deep dive into AI-powered app development. Don’t forget to join NewForm for more opportunities, and happy coding!