Rituals: 6 weeks to 'vibe code' and launch a moneymaking website
How I created a fully functioning web tool with AI
For the past 6 weeks, I’ve been part of a program where at the end of it all, I launched a fully functioning, potentially moneymaking website.
The program was Lovable Shipped, hosted by Lovable, an online platform that allows you to create websites by way of “vibe coding,” where you chat with AI to create a web application.
The 10 finalists were just announced today and will pitch their finished product on a stage in San Francisco next week, in front of potential investors and a chance to win $100K.
The phrase “shipped” is a common term in the tech world. It denotes getting development, products, and updates shipped out the door; it’s all about action, execution, very git ‘er done.
When I found out about Shipped, I submitted an application and a YouTube video about what I wanted to build, and was accepted fairly quickly.
Though I think they pretty much accepted anyone who applied right down to the deadline.
Before all of this, I’d already wanted to tinker with Lovable, so this was a great push to get started.
I’m also a procrastinating masochist, so I thought, “Why not lock in and put myself to the fire, at the height of this blazing hot summer?” Weeee!
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So how did it go?
To be honest, it felt a little like summer school.
We—there were thousands of participants from around the world in the cohort—attended weekly YouTube “classes” and seminars.
Most were great, especially the first one about validating your product or idea as fast as possible.
Hint: If people provide their email, then it’s digital gold.
Many joiners were clearly on the younger side, using this time to launch their first, actual business.
For me, I liked the community aspect and being held accountable for building in public and being in friendly competition with others.
Plus, I work well on deadlines.
To qualify for weekly giveaways, we were required to submit “weekly updates,” which included demo videos, links to your site, and progress reports, e.g., what we did and we were doing next.
This looked an awful lot like homework, due each week before Sunday at midnight PST.
We would then vote and provide feedback on each others’ work.
Yours truly sat at her laptop into the wee hours of several Sunday nights feverishly vibe coding to submit her weekly reports on time.
After some minor confusion about how and where to submit stuff, I finally figured this out around week 3, which put me out of contention for the ‘contest’ (because you had to hit 5 out of 6 weeks to qualify for the competition).
But that didn’t deter me from going ahead with the remaining weeks.
So how did I do?
Of course, this was an entire Lovable marketing campaign.
Their intent was to get hundreds of people using the software, and for that they succeeded.
My prediction was there would be a lot of interest and excitement at the start, and as we got further along, people would drop like flies once they realized they had to do actual work, build in public, vote, and reciprocate feedback.
This was the acid test that split the doers from dreamers.
Toward the end, the line between those who put in real effort vs. those who half-assed it was clear.
And though I was nowhere near the Top 10, I think I did fairly well placing around 500 out of the initial 5,000, even after missing the first 3 weeks.
One thing that came up: some people were scared to build in public, out of fear that others would steal their ideas.
Guess what? Someone else probably has the same idea as you; it’s just up to you to execute and make it happen first.
No one else can build your idea quite like you.
It reminded me of silly tech people back in the day would say something like, “I’m building something really cool,” and you’d say, “Cool, what is it?” and then they’d give this tool answer like, “I can’t tell you what it is.” Lol.
As for feedback, I was quite surprised at how well articulated and thoughtful some of it was:
And, I was so impressed with what people were building.
There was the app where people could find empty basketball courts and meet up; the app where people could locate the closest ice cream truck; the fintech app where people could download their bank statements directly into google sheets, and the bookworm app where people could get matched to books based on their vibe…
So what did I build?
It’s called TRaiT, and it’s a tool that helps you figure out your 3 key personality types, all in one place.
Here’s a look, and if you click on the image you’ll be taken straight to it:
Previously, this would take multiple sites, tools, and hours to get all of your information.
I’ve written before about my curiosity about human personality metrics: MBTI, Enneagram, and Human Design.
If you’d like to test it out, please have a go now! It’s LIVE and ready for users:
It’s not 100% or perfect by any means, but it works! (I think.)
If you do the full 30-question survey, then you’ll see your results at the end and also get them via email.
So go on, give it a whirl.
Reply or drop in the comments below how much you like this or how much it sucks.
For anyone else interested in building a web app using Lovable, get started here.
More from the Shindy-verse
📺 I’m watching:
The Gilded Age, HBO - continuing this
And Just Like That, HBO - still watching this forever trainwreck
Too Much, Netflix: A new show by Lena Dunham. While I really tried in the past to watch Dunham’s very popular show Girls (on HBO), I could never get past the first few episodes because of her (and the other characters’, but mostly her) incessant, rapid-fire whining. It’s like the opposite of shrill, but just as annoying and at a frequency that is nails on chalkboards.
While I was able to get through Too Much, there were moments I had to switch off because Dunham managed to find another actress, the talented Megan Stalter, who I’m pretty sure she told to duplicate said rapid-fire, entitled, emotional moaning.
Seriously, it’s distracting and takes away from the show. But luckily, it’s not all the time, and Will Sharpe’s performance as well as delightful appearances from Richard E. Grant and Naomi Watts are what save it, frankly, and that’s how as a viewer you're able to appreciate the story and relationship commentary.
It is painful to watch in parts because it is so relatable in the context of relationships: grieving over a breakup, obsessing over your ex’s new partner, recalling all the hurtful things said and done, ruminating over the best and worst times even as you’re finding new love.
I’m mostly happy with the ending however I don’t think I’ll need a second season.The Hunting Wives, Netflix. This murder suspense drama is interesting, fun, naughty, and very steamy. Though set in Texas, many of the scenes were filmed in just north of Charlotte in Mooresville, near Lake Norman.
It occurred to me I was being presented with a very different spectrum of women across the Netflix shows I was watching: they aren’t afraid to showcase rampant drug use and bi-sexuality. Is it real women being women? Or just women being able to be naughty women?
📚 I’m reading:
Rome Before Rome: I visited the library to attempt to pick up a copy of Tiny Experiments, but I went too late after my hold expired. I snoozed and I lost. Instead, I picked up this book, which so far has been a joy to read with lively, modern narration, and even illustrations! Who knew Roman history could be so fun.
📰 I’m writing:
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Until next time,
Shindy
On Instagram + TikTok
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This is SO cool! I really like what you built and can't wait to see what all you do with it