• Her AI Drop
  • Posts
  • Build Your Own No-Code Productivity App in Minutes with AI

Build Your Own No-Code Productivity App in Minutes with AI

Ditch the Planner: Build Your Perfect Focus App in 5 Minutes

Hi, Julie here. Ever look at your calendar and wish the day had 30 hours instead of 24? Between running a SaaS business, nurturing a community, and dropping a weekly AI newsletter (hi there 👋 ), my brain was a tangled web of tabs, each blasting a different podcast. 🎧

Then I had a lightbulb moment: why wrestle with off-the-shelf productivity apps that demand subscriptions, bloat your workflow, and still don’t fit?

Instead, I spent five minutes with Claude AI and handed it a crystal-clear prompt to whip up a custom Task Manager & Focus Timer tailored to exactly what I, and you, need.

Is it perfect? Nope. But it works. And perhaps more importantly, it proves you don’t need a CS degree to get started with AI. All it takes is a prompt and a little curiosity.

Below, you’ll find that exact prompt broken down so you can grab it in one copy-and-paste swoop.

Productivity App Prompt

Use this prompt with Claude (or another AI assistant) to create your own productivity app:

Create a fully functional, single-file HTML countdown timer application with the following exact requirements:

Core Timer Functionality:

  • Large timer display: 4rem font size, MM:SS format, centered, using monospace font

  • Preset time buttons: 5, 15, 25, 30, 45, 60 minutes (clearly labeled)

  • Custom time input: Number input field with "Set" button, 1-999 minute range

  • Start/Stop control: Single button that toggles between "Start" and "Stop"

  • Manual reset: Separate "Reset" button that restores original time

  • Add time while running: +1min, +5min, +10min buttons (only visible when timer is active)

Timer completion alerts:

  • Visual: Brief yellow background flash animation

  • Audio: 0.5-second beep sound using Web Audio API Modal/popup message: "Timer Complete!" for 3 seconds

Task Management System:

  • Add task form: Two inputs (task name, duration in minutes) + "Add Task" button

  • Task list display: Shows all tasks with name, duration, and action buttons

  • Start from task: Button to start timer with task's duration and name

  • Mark complete: Button to mark task as done (shows strikethrough styling)

  • Completed tasks: Visual indication with strikethrough and reduced opacity

  • Data persistence: Must use localStorage to save tasks between sessions

History & Progress Tracking:

  • Completion tracking: Automatically log completed timer sessions

  • History display: Last 10 completed sessions with:

    • Task/session name

    • Duration

    • Completion date and time (formatted: MM/DD/YYYY at HH:MM AM/PM)

  • Persistent storage: Use localStorage for history data

Design Requirements:

  • Color scheme: White background, black text, blue buttons (#007bff)

  • Typography: System fonts (-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', etc.)

  • Layout: Clean sections with light gray borders and backgrounds (#fafafa) Responsive design: Works on mobile (320px+) and desktop

  • Button styling: Consistent padding, hover effects, disabled states

Technical Implementation Requirements:

  • Single HTML file: All CSS and JavaScript embedded No external dependencies: No CDN links, libraries, or frameworks

  • Error handling: Try-catch blocks for localStorage operations Input validation: Check for empty/invalid values with user feedback Keyboard support: Enter key works in all input fields Accessibility: Proper semantic HTML, labels, and ARIA attributes

Critical Success Factors:

  • Use direct button clicks, not form submissions for task management Include comprehensive error handling with user-friendly messages

  • Test all localStorage operations with try-catch blocks

  • Validate all user inputs before processing

  • Provide visual feedback for all user actions Ensure mobile responsiveness with proper viewport and media queries

Layout Structure (Top to Bottom):

  • App Title: Large, centered heading Timer

  • Section: Display + controls + preset buttons + custom input

  • Task Management: Add form + task list

  • History Section: Completed sessions list

Specific Code Requirements:

  • Use localStorage.setItem() and localStorage.getItem() for data persistence Include JSON.stringify() and JSON.parse() for object storage Use setInterval() and clearInterval() for timer functionality

  • Implement Web Audio API beep with oscillator Use CSS flexbox for responsive layouts Include proper error messages and validation

Testing Checklist

  • The final application must:

    • Timer starts, stops, and resets correctly

    • Preset buttons set timer to correct values

    • Custom time input accepts and applies values

    • Add time buttons work while timer is running

    • Tasks can be added with name and duration

    • Tasks persist after page reload

    • Timer can be started from task with correct duration

    • Tasks can be marked as complete

    • History shows completed sessions

    • All buttons are clickable and responsive

    • Works on mobile devices

    • Audio beep plays on completion

    • Visual flash occurs on completion

Note: If localStorage doesn't work in the environment, use in-memory storage (JavaScript variables/arrays) and mention this limitation to the user. This specification ensures a production-ready timer application that will work reliably for focused work sessions and productivity tracking.

P.S. Who’s behind this?
We’re Katie and Julie: two tech-obsessed founders, former corporate warriors, and current moms of littles who are very much in the juggle. Between us, we’ve led digital strategy for Fortune 500s, hit the Inc. 500 list, scaled and exited brands, and survived more than one toddler tantrum mid-Zoom. Now? We’re on a mission to help women cut through the AI noise, save time, make more money, and actually feel excited about the future.

Julie and Katie

Hi, that’s us ^