Build a quick prototype
See an idea working on a branch before committing the team to it.
Product · Software · When you ask · Updated
Works with
- Slack
SlackHow do you build a quick prototype?
To build a quick prototype, describe the idea to Maito in Slack. It reads your code, builds a working version on a separate branch, runs your tests, opens a draft pull request, and tells you what the prototype leaves out. You see the idea working before the team commits to it.
How it's done today
Ideas get debated in docs for weeks.
What Maito does
- Read the idea
- Build a rough version on a branch
- Share a preview and a video
Example
@Maito Prototype a dark mode toggle in settings.
Prototype is on branch prototype/dark-mode-toggle, draft PR #482. Not merged. • Settings > Appearance has Light, Dark and System • The choice is saved and applied before first paint, so there is no white flash • 41 lines changed across 3 files; the 212 existing tests still pass The catch: 14 components use hardcoded colors (#fff, #1a1a1a), mostly the billing page and chart legends. They stay light in dark mode, which makes the billing page look broken. A proper build needs a pass over those. I opened the preview in a browser and recorded it. Attached: dark-mode-demo.mp4 (28 seconds). Whether to build it properly is the team's call.
@Maito Fix the billing page on the same branch so we can see it end to end.
Done. Billing now follows the toggle, 6 colors moved to theme variables. New video attached: dark-mode-billing.mp4.
Leo (11:40 AM):
Prototype a dark mode toggle in settings.
Maito (12:06 PM):
Prototype is on branch prototype/dark-mode-toggle, draft PR #482. Not merged.
• Settings > Appearance has Light, Dark and System
• The choice is saved and applied before first paint, so there is no white flash
• 41 lines changed across 3 files; the 212 existing tests still pass
The catch: 14 components use hardcoded colors (#fff, #1a1a1a), mostly the billing page and chart legends. They stay light in dark mode, which makes the billing page look broken. A proper build needs a pass over those.
I opened the preview in a browser and recorded it. Attached: dark-mode-demo.mp4 (28 seconds).
Whether to build it properly is the team's call.
Alex (12:15 PM):
Fix the billing page on the same branch so we can see it end to end.
Maito (12:31 PM):
Done. Billing now follows the toggle, 6 colors moved to theme variables. New video attached: dark-mode-billing.mp4.
How to set it up
- Set up
Nothing to set up. Ask in Slack or by email whenever you need it.
What it won't do
A prototype shows that an idea can work, not that it is ready to ship. Design polish, edge cases and rollout are for a real build.
Questions
No. It stays on a branch as a draft pull request until your team decides.
Yes. It runs your existing tests and reports whether they still pass.
No. It shows the idea working, and the reply lists what a proper build still needs.
