When I vibe coded my first app, a lot of trial and error, a lot of bugs, and I was expecting a few apps to be built that I wouldn’t be able to use much. Instead, the first tool I created was one that was immediately useful.
It only took me a few minutes to create my spreadsheet analysis tool, but since then I’ve reaped many time-saving benefits.
What does a spreadsheet analyzer do?
This determines the trends in the performance of my article
A program called ArticleInsights simply analyzes tables containing statistics about my articles. The tool then takes data from these tables, including the best and worst performing articles, and displays them in easy-to-digest formats. In addition, it extracts trends from well-performing articles and suggests potential ideas for expansion in future articles.
I created the tool as part of a course I took on Google’s AI tools. As part of the vibe-coding section of the course, the assignment suggested finding something that goes into my workflow to use as inspiration for an app.
I have to constantly come up with new ideas for work, but also identify topics that work and those that don’t. Sometimes when dealing with a large number of articles, it can be difficult to identify the nuances that make one angle work and another not. So I thought I’d enlist the help of AI to see what I’m missing.
This has saved me time in a number of ways over the past few weeks. First, it can sort data from different tables in a simple way that isn’t as heavy as multiple columns with tons of data.
He can also look at article trends in a more abstract way, whereas I tend to focus on topics or keywords. For example, the tool found that articles based on my experience as a beginner were performing well. At the same time, less focused complaints about platforms or services do not fare well.
I also like that it adjusts filters based on existing metrics in my spreadsheets, meaning I can use it for article analytics on the various websites I write about.
Instead of spending hours analyzing trends on different articles for different sites, I can now get summaries and suggestions in minutes. Although I haven’t used any of the ideas suggested by the tool, I find his feedback helpful for other potential ideas.
The program took less time to launch than expected
I could even customize it to my preferences
When I first started building the app, I expected it to take several iterations and involve quite a bit of troubleshooting. Little did I know how simple it would actually be to get it working.
I started with a relatively simple prompt: “I want to build a program that takes spreadsheet data about article performance and identifies items with the highest and lowest values to create tables and summaries that help generate new article ideas.”
I then used a few follow-up instructions to add certain buttons and features, and also ensured that the web app was in dark mode to avoid triggering a migraine.
If I had more complex features like Google Drive integration, it would probably be more troubleshooting. However, it took me about 15 minutes to get it functional enough to start using.
Vibe coding allows you to create simple applications for your unique needs
This sometimes works better than chatbot projects
My ArticleInsights application is not very complex – and some of its functions can be replicated using projects in AI chatbots. However, I found the vibe coded tool useful for a number of reasons.
First of all, I don’t need to rewrite the instructions or adjust the instructions, I just upload the document and updates to the dashboard. When I want suggestions and reviews, I just need to tap a button.
The tool also adapts to my spreadsheets without changing my instructions. For example, it sorts articles for one site by active sessions, a metric highlighted in my spreadsheet. For another site, I can switch between different dimensions such as US views and global views included in the table.
The advantage of Vibe coding is that you can easily create an app that fits your needs, even if it’s niche. In some cases, you may even find it more efficient than using a chatbot. You can try vibe-code productivity stack or some other type of customized dashboard.
Building your first app is easier than you think
Artificial intelligence makes it easier than ever to create niche tools that streamline your workflow, even if you have no coding experience. However, I would recommend not sharing any sensitive information with your apps or posting it on public platforms unless you know what you are doing.
A lot vibe coded apps have vulnerabilitiesso for me it’s about creating simple tools that I can personally use to make my workflow simpler and more efficient.
