Non-technical user builds ‘sludge’ tracking app using AI coding assistant
A project utilising the Claude AI assistant highlights the accessibility of software development for ordinary users, while raising questions about the systemic impact of such tools.
A contributor to WIRED has successfully developed a database application designed to track administrative burdens, termed 'sludge', without possessing traditional programming skills. The project, detailed in an article titled 'I’m a Normie. Can Normies Really Vibe Code?', utilises the AI coding assistant Claude to demonstrate how non-technical individuals can create functional software through natural language prompts.
The initiative was catalysed after the author’s mother suffered a fractured tibia following an incident involving a dog in a city park. Utilising her Claude Pro subscription, the author embarked on the first software development project of their life, aiming to create a tool that logs frustrating administrative tasks, such as navigating insurance portals or managing subscription services.
The resulting application features 'Log Incident' and 'Dashboard' tabs, allowing users to record the time spent, annoyance levels, and alternative activities they would have preferred. Submissions are accompanied by automated rewards, including inspiring quotes and images of animals, alongside generated paragraphs that provide wider context on systemic sludge patterns and draft complaint letters to relevant regulatory bodies.
Development involved deploying the application using GitHub for code storage, Supabase for user data, and Netlify for serving the interface. The process required resolving security vulnerabilities, including an exposed API key in a public repository and unsanitized user-submitted text, which the AI assistant helped identify and rectify through iterative instructions.
Testing revealed the practical utility of the tool, with the author’s father logging three hours spent navigating a doctor’s appointment phone tree, categorised as a three out of ten annoyance. The app was subsequently shared with an 'Admin Night' community, receiving submissions regarding issues with Audible, Hulu, and school portals, validating the concept of a shared civic ledger for administrative grievances.
The project underscores the growing accessibility of AI-assisted software development, allowing ordinary users to build niche tools that address specific inefficiencies. However, it also prompts broader questions regarding the environmental and systemic implications of such democratized coding, particularly whether these tools will ultimately reduce bureaucratic friction or contribute to new forms of digital complexity.
The application remains live on Netlify, though the author notes potential instability. The project serves as a case study in how AI can lower barriers to entry for software creation, transforming passive consumers of technology into active builders capable of addressing everyday administrative challenges.
