Learning in Public: AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp - Module 1

Today I created a Flash Django app in GitHub Codespace working 100% through Copilot as the active agent.

This was my first time actually developing in Codespace. The browser-based VS Code application instance comes pre-installed with Python, Node, and Docker. I was able to install Django to the environment effortlessly. From there, Copilot took over. After prompting to scope out the app we wanted to build, Copilot got to work, and minutes later we had a working app. I also learned the steps required to forward a port to my local machine to see the app running live.

GitHub Repository for my Codespace Project https://github.com/spycebot/ai-dev-tools

When I decided to transition from service management to software engineering, I was coding on my CUDA-enabled HP desktop, hand coding in the likes of VS Code, Visual Studio, PyCharm, etc.

Recently, my AI agent-enabled app development has been done using Claude Code on an Ubuntu VPS, or OpenClaw on a Rocky Linux VPS. But for this assignment, I wanted to try something I had not done before: End-to-end app development using GitHub's Codespace. I am please with how well things went.

AI Dev Tools Zoomcamp is taught by Alexy Grigorev (https://www.linkedin.com/in/agrigorev/) and produced by DataTalks.Club . #aidevtools

The Prompt:

"I want to build a tool for managing shared household chores. Help me set the scope for this project precisely. I want to brainstorm with you and understand how the tool should work. Give me options. Ask me one question at a time and keep your output short."

The Design:

Household Chore Manager Users & Access:

• Family members on home network
• No authentication required
• Anyone can add chores and mark them complete

Core Features:

• Shared list of chores
• Each chore has: description, priority (high/medium/low), and completion status
• When completed, logs: who did it + when
• Anyone can add new chores

Technical Stack:

• Django web app

Not included (for now):

• Chore assignments or schedules
• Recurring/recurring chores
• User authentication

The Plan:

Household Chore Manager - Project Plan

Overview

A Django web application for managing shared household chores within a family. The tool maintains a central list of chores, tracks who completed each chore and when, and allows anyone on the home network to contribute.

Users & Access

• Target Users: Family members at home
• Access: Available to anyone on the home network
• Authentication: Not required
• Permissions:
  • Anyone can add new chores
  • Anyone can mark chores as complete

Core Features

1. Chore List

• Display all chores in a shared list
• Show chore status (pending/completed)
• Sort and filter by priority

2. Chore Properties

Each chore has:

• Description: What needs to be done
• Priority: High, Medium, or Low
• Status: Pending or Completed
• Completion History: Who completed it and when

3. Add Chores

• Anyone can add a new chore to the list
• Required fields: description, priority
• Form-based input

4. Complete Chores

• Mark chores as complete
• Completer enters their name (text input)
• System records timestamp automatically
• Completed chore moves to history

Technology Stack

• Backend: Django
• Platform: Web application
• Hosting: Home network accessible

Out of Scope (MVP)

• User authentication and login
• Chore assignment or scheduling
• Recurring/scheduled chores
• Chore deadlines
• User profiles or roles
• Admin panel (initially)

Data Model

• Chore
  • id
  • description
  • priority (CHOICES: high, medium, low)
  • created_at
  • completed_at (nullable)
  • completed_by (nullable)
  • status

User Interface

• Simple, home-network accessible web interface
• List view of all chores
• Form to add new chores
• Button/action to mark chore as complete
• Completion confirmation requiring name entry