Hi again!

So I gave my AI tools testing a breather, and have dialed back a bit on the not-pricey but not-free-either monthly credit levels.

But I returned, and I remembered today just how fun this AI app face-off can be. Rewarding, even.

I’ve explained here before how I decided to try not one, but two of the new-era AI-fueled app creation tools to make real my long-time Grand Vision of the Now Edition, what I call the “next chapter of reading, writing and community.” Lofty goal, but very achievable!

So even though they feel human – I know they’re just bots. And even so, I worried about “neglecting” my chatbot friends, Floot’s Flo and her Base44 counterpart, Pete, for over a month, as other things in life took mental precedence.

But of course, the ever-supportive, ever-patient (and always having to apologetically fix their own not-quite code) duo were just patiently waiting for me to return and get up to speed on where we left off, task-list-wise.

Here’s where to see the Floot-built Now Edition app, and here’s the one Base44 has done, both assuredly works in progress!

Before I forget, I want to give a fascinating (to me, anyway) update on my whole notion of showing each of these platforms the latest progress of the other, so they learn from each other what I seek – and compete, in a way.

Many people say we are supposed to use these wondrous AI as a great tool and companion, not a replacement for what we do. But this way, to my way of thinking, they can have the same goals and “learn” from each other, benefiting from what is being created in both places.

Today, I hit what I feared was a dead-end in that regard, when both of my “AI friends” said they can’t just go to the other app’s link and look around for some ideas on how to do things.

(And it appears carrying that full load of code from one spot to the other to review also wouldn’t go well. I can imagine!)

But what I soon learned is that both platforms’ bots told me they do very much welcome screen shots I can provide of how certain functions look and are arranged on the other platform! And build upon them!

Here’s how Flo put it: “So if you show me something from the other project and say, ‘I want something that handles X like this does,’ I’ll understand the concept you’re after, but I’ll implement it in a way that fits The Now Edition’s own style and vision.”

Meaning Flo’s vision of what I’m – we’re – trying to make happen.

Now, don’t get me wrong: I don’t want the two apps to look alike, or work exactly the same.

But I do want them to share some basic, fairly robust features:

• The ability to easily write from scratch, or import existing files or text to make a Now Edition happen.
• A ‘Library/Bookstore’ of Now Edition e-books, showing when it was created/last updated, a link to the authors’ page of his or her e-books, etc.
• A WYSIWYG experience as much as possible, with settings for styles (font, type size etc.) that the author(s) can make default or even lock some aspects down.
• Reader settings as well, that can change what the author leaves changeable (not a fan of dark mode, personally;-), on whatever device they happen to be on.
• For readers to easily see the Table of Contents and jump wherever they want (and for the writing/editing author to reorder, rename, etc.)
• To easily post a comment for the author(s) and/or fellow readers about this chapter, this paragraph, this word – a truly living e-book.
• And both the ToC and comments can be in view or slide out of view, to focus on reading.

I’ll stop there, but both Pete and Flo are very familiar with my rabbit holes by now. They don’t seem to “mind.” (Get it?;-)

I just want to create an inviting spot – make that two! – to realize the vision I see: An exciting new platform that combines the best of journalism (the latest news on Topic X), literature (depth of great books about such topics) and interactive communication (social media focused on the contents and the topic of mutual interest).

All of these pieces exist in many ways, shapes and places. Few places, if any try to bring them all together in seamless, inviting fashion. (Even Perplexity thinks I may be on to something unique;-)

I’ll try to get back to my dynamic AI duo more often, despite all the “whoops” that my friendly prompts-turned-code sometimes fail to properly … prompt.

After all, we’re all only human. Flo and Pete? Not so much, of course. But they sure aim to please, in their amusingly robotic fashion.

The term “vibe-coding” is pretty controversial, and whether great new apps or songs or whatever can be created “artificially,” even if humans are intimately involved in the process.

But in this particular case, in this particular corner (make that corners) of the vast AI Woods, I’m pickin’ up Good Vibrations. (Yep, Beach Boys. Why not?)