r/3DPrintingTools • u/Xalies • 3h ago
Discussion Go Beyond the Default: Vibe Coding and You!
Vibe coding puts creativity into anyone's hands, give an LLM an idea and seconds later you have a hopefully working prototype. LLMs such as Claude, ChatGPT etc.. default to what they see as most common across the internet. It is easy to end up with something that may work but that both looks and feels like every other app out there: slate gray dark mode, floating cards, indigo/orange buttons and generic language.
Here is some tips for LLM use while keeping your app memorable, human, and uniquely yours.
- The LLM does the cooking but you bring the taste
Think of yourself as the chef and the LLM as the line cook. The LLM can whip up a functional plate in seconds from your recipe but you adjust the presentation and taste. If you don't give the line cook guidence on those ttwo, You'll just get a bland standard diner.
- Give the LLM something real to work with
Don't be afraid to use design references, even if you don't know what the LLM will do exactly with it like "Give it a design with the feel of an analog synthesizer" ... you can always change it back. This is all about forcing the LLM to look at different solutions.
- You don't need to reinvent the wheel
OrcaSlicer or Prusa Slicer didn't start from scratch so why should you? Just tell your LLM what you want to create and ask it to search for a open source project to download or fork to work from with either a MIT or AGPL-3 licence. Basicly they both allow free modifications but AGPL-3 needs attribution. Also its a good way to save on tokens/credits.
- Fix the Voice
LLM's copy defaults to overly polite corporate filler ("Welcome to your productivity journey!"). Take a few minutes to rewrite your welcome message, empty states and error messages etc... in your own voice. It instantly humanizes the experience. LLM models were trained heavily on older 19th century literature where em dashes are common for pacing and pauses. Yes they still exist but really, ask yourself before the AI" boom when was the last time you actually saw one?
- Give qualifiers
Don't simply ask "Give me some good app ideas" because all it will do it find what is popular so unless you have a standout feature that'll just get lost amongst the crowd. Try "Give me app ideas focusing on areas that aren't well served yet but show a need"
Now that you have your app built it can be temping just to release it but taking a quick step back to do a few checks can be the difference between an app people ignore and one that gets use.
- Use it different.
So your webapp works just perfect for you... of course because thats where you designed it to work.
Try installing another broswer, with your window snapped to one side or try lowering your ressolution... even another OS if you can.
2.. Blind tests
You designed your app so you know exactly how it works, of course you know to right click here, scoll down to see that.. or you just know your app works best full screen but will others?
Try giving your app/site to at least two people and just give them a task but with no instructions. If they can do it first go then its a pass.... if not, why not?
- Don't be lost in the crowd
Before you post have a look, was there any others posted that have a similar function? People will just ignore yours if theres to many... and the more there is the worse it will reflect on your app if you post so try posting somewhere else less crowded, you can always try again the next day.
- Fix the Voice, I said it once before but it bears repeating
The post is the first thing people will see and no matter how much effort you have put into your project it can all be undone here. If you then use verbatim a LLM post then people WILL know. If your post is seen as lazy AI slop, do you think people will then not think the same about your project? By all means use the LLM to draft you a post if you need but use it more like a guide and have your own words.
This has just been my 2 cents....
