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clarktechventures-dev
clarktechventures-dev

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I built a real-time inflation tracker in 24 hours using AI (PHP + SQLite + Claude)

The Problem

I wanted to move to Latin America, but cost-of-living sites like Numbeo had terrible, outdated crowdsourced data. So I built my own.

The Solution

NomadInflation.com - scrapes real prices from local sources weekly. No estimates. Just actual data.

🔗 https://nomadinflation.com

How I Built It (in 24 hours)

Full transparency: I'm a "vibe coder" - been programming 4 years but not brilliant. AI did the heavy lifting.

Tech Stack:

  • IDE: Windsurf + Claude Sonnet 4.5 integration
  • Backend: PHP + SQLite
  • Frontend: Vanilla JS + Leaflet.js
  • Hosting: DigitalOcean VPS
  • Data: Web scraping from local sources

Process:

  1. ChatGPT designed the architecture
  2. Claude wrote most of the code via Windsurf
  3. I reviewed, tested, and iterated
  4. Deployed in one day

The Hard Parts

Finding scrapable data sources:

  • Most sites block bots
  • Had to use mix of government data + large retailers
  • Currency conversion for 6+ currencies

Making it actually work:

  • Testing scraper reliability
  • Handling rate limits
  • Ensuring data accuracy

Current Status

✅ Tracking Asunción, Paraguay ($966/month)

✅ Interactive map with 23+ LATAM cities

✅ Multi-currency support (USD, EUR, AUD, CAD, MXN, PYG)

✅ Weekly automated updates

✅ Email capture for alerts

What's Next

  • Add São Paulo, Mexico City, Buenos Aires
  • Price change notifications
  • Historical data charts
  • Validate if people actually want this

Lessons Learned

In 2025, execution > technical perfection.

You don't need to be a 10x engineer. You need:

  1. A real problem
  2. AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT)
  3. Willingness to ship fast

Took the Pieter Levels approach: Build in public, ship fast, iterate based on feedback.

Check it out: https://nomadinflation.com

Feedback welcome! What cities should I add? What features matter most?

Also posted on Hacker News today if you want to follow the discussion there.

buildinpublic #indiehacker

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