Building for an audience of one: starting and finishing side projects with AI (codemade.net)

A developer recently created FastTab, a custom task switcher for the Plasma desktop environment, leveraging AI tools like Claude for rapid prototyping and implementation. Frustrated with the slow performance of the built-in "Gallery" view on X11, the developer used AI-driven conversations to generate a detailed project specification, enabling them to prototype the application in just a few days despite having no prior experience with Zig or X11 internals. The process highlighted how AI coding agents can empower developers to tackle niche problems efficiently, allowing for quicker iterations and ultimately, successful project completion. The significance of this development lies in the demonstration of AI's role in enhancing productivity for individual developers, especially in the context of side projects. The approach included using pseudocode and modular design principles, underscoring the importance of writing maintainable code. The project also explored the challenges of AI-assisted coding, such as token limits and the necessity for strong coding knowledge to guide AI outputs effectively. This experience suggests a shift in attitudes towards AI in coding, emphasizing its potential to help developers not just build projects faster, but also encourage them to actually finish what they start.