Today, co-founders Kimberly Erni and Pei Pei Wang join the Elixir Wizards to discuss their crochet app, LoopedIn. Recognizing a gap in the market for a more user-friendly and interactive crochet pattern experience, they're building an app that makes following patterns easier and more enjoyable for crocheters of all skill levels.

They're building features such as step-by-step guidance, video tutorials, and the ability to upload and convert PDF patterns into an interactive format. Kimberly explains how she's leveraging AI tools to vibe code in Elixir and LiveView.

They highlight the challenges and successes they encountered while creating a Progressive Web App (PWA) that integrates AI-powered features. They also discuss their user research and testing process, which involved gathering feedback from the crochet community to prioritize features and improve the app's UX.

Kimberly and Pei Pei share their thoughts on the potential of AI in the tech industry and how it has assisted them in the development and iteration process. They emphasize the importance of understanding the code generated by AI and the need for proper testing and verification. They offer advice to others looking to create passion projects, stressing the value of finding a partner with complementary skills and shared enthusiasm for the project.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Discovering a niche: why crochet patterns need a digital makeover
Core LoopedIn features: interactive steps, video help, PDF conversion
Building a PWA with Elixir & Phoenix LiveView for cross-platform reach
Offline support and caching strategies for on-the-go crafting
AI-driven pattern parsing: benefits and pitfalls of generated code
User research: gathering feedback from beginner to expert crocheters
Agile iterations: testing, prioritizing features, and shipping quickly
Balancing “vibe coding” with quality assurance and proper test coverage
Partnership dynamics: complementary skills and shared passion
Monetization approaches for a niche, community-driven app
Roadmap highlights: expanded social features, advanced AI tooling, and more
Lessons learned: documentation gaps, performance tuning, and UX trade-offs
Advice for side projects: start small, validate with users, and iterate

Links mentioned:

Amigurumis
https://www.amigurumi.com/
https://pragmaticstudio.com/phoenix-liveview
https://grox.io/about-product/liveview
Creating a Local First LiveView App https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcafwf14SDo
https://capacitorjs.com/docs
https://flutter.dev/
https://passion.place/
https://cursor.com/
https://claude.ai/
https://nerves-project.org/
https://crochetapp.web.app/
https://www.figma.com/
Little Red Book App https://www.xiaohongshu.com/

!! Try the LoopedIn app here 👉 https://looped-in.gigalixirapp.com *!!*

Add it to your phone like an app:

Open the link in Safari
Tap the Share button (square with arrow)
Tap Add to Home Screen
Tap Add

Then you can open it like a regular app! 🎉 Leave a comment if you try it!

!! We Want to Hear Your Thoughts *!!*

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