DEV Community: clarktechventures-dev The latest articles on DEV Community by clarktechventures-dev (@clarktechventuresdev). https://dev.to/clarktechventuresdev https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3540092%2Fef0d1e37-225e-41fe-ba27-a2ee19f2e0fa.png DEV Community: clarktechventures-dev https://dev.to/clarktechventuresdev en I built a real-time inflation tracker in 24 hours using AI (PHP + SQLite + Claude) clarktechventures-dev Wed, 01 Oct 2025 13:40:41 +0000 https://dev.to/clarktechventuresdev/i-built-a-real-time-inflation-tracker-in-24-hours-using-ai-php-sqlite-claude-5ab8 https://dev.to/clarktechventuresdev/i-built-a-real-time-inflation-tracker-in-24-hours-using-ai-php-sqlite-claude-5ab8 <p>The Problem</p> <p>I wanted to move to Latin America, but cost-of-living sites like Numbeo had terrible, outdated crowdsourced data. So I built my own.</p> <p>The Solution</p> <p>NomadInflation.com - scrapes real prices from local sources weekly. No estimates. Just actual data.</p> <p>🔗 <a href="https://nomadinflation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://nomadinflation.com</a></p> <p>How I Built It (in 24 hours)</p> <p>Full transparency: I'm a "vibe coder" - been programming 4 years but not brilliant. AI did the heavy lifting.</p> <p>Tech Stack:</p> <ul> <li>IDE: Windsurf + Claude Sonnet 4.5 integration</li> <li>Backend: PHP + SQLite</li> <li>Frontend: Vanilla JS + Leaflet.js</li> <li>Hosting: DigitalOcean VPS</li> <li>Data: Web scraping from local sources</li> </ul> <p>Process:</p> <ol> <li>ChatGPT designed the architecture</li> <li>Claude wrote most of the code via Windsurf</li> <li>I reviewed, tested, and iterated</li> <li>Deployed in one day</li> </ol> <p>The Hard Parts</p> <p>Finding scrapable data sources:</p> <ul> <li>Most sites block bots</li> <li>Had to use mix of government data + large retailers</li> <li>Currency conversion for 6+ currencies</li> </ul> <p>Making it actually work:</p> <ul> <li>Testing scraper reliability</li> <li>Handling rate limits</li> <li>Ensuring data accuracy</li> </ul> <p>Current Status</p> <p>✅ Tracking Asunción, Paraguay ($966/month)<br><br> ✅ Interactive map with 23+ LATAM cities<br><br> ✅ Multi-currency support (USD, EUR, AUD, CAD, MXN, PYG)<br><br> ✅ Weekly automated updates<br><br> ✅ Email capture for alerts </p> <p>What's Next</p> <ul> <li>Add São Paulo, Mexico City, Buenos Aires</li> <li>Price change notifications</li> <li>Historical data charts</li> <li>Validate if people actually want this</li> </ul> <p>Lessons Learned</p> <p>In 2025, execution &gt; technical perfection.</p> <p>You don't need to be a 10x engineer. You need:</p> <ol> <li>A real problem</li> <li>AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT)</li> <li>Willingness to ship fast</li> </ol> <p>Took the Pieter Levels approach: Build in public, ship fast, iterate based on feedback.</p> <p>Check it out: <a href="https://nomadinflation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://nomadinflation.com</a></p> <p>Feedback welcome! What cities should I add? What features matter most?</p> <p>Also posted on Hacker News today if you want to follow the discussion there.</p> <h1> buildinpublic #indiehacker </h1> programming webdev javascript ai Just built a SaaS in 36 hours clarktechventures-dev Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:35:42 +0000 https://dev.to/clarktechventuresdev/just-built-a-saas-in-36-hours-5n4 https://dev.to/clarktechventuresdev/just-built-a-saas-in-36-hours-5n4 <p>The Problem</p> <p>I wanted to move to Latin America, but cost-of-living sites had outdated crowdsourced data. So I built my own.</p> <p>The Solution</p> <p>NomadInflation.com: scrapes real prices from local sources weekly. No estimates. Just actual data.</p> <p>🔗 <a href="https://nomadinflation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://nomadinflation.com</a></p> <p>How I Built It (in 24 hours)</p> <p>Full transparency: I'm a "vibe coder"... been programming 4 years but not brilliant. AI did the heavy lifting.</p> <p>Tech Stack:</p> <ul> <li>IDE: Windsurf + Claude Sonnet 4.5 integration</li> <li>Backend: PHP + SQLite</li> <li>Frontend: Vanilla JS + Leaflet.js</li> <li>Hosting: DigitalOcean VPS</li> <li>Data: Web scraping from local sources</li> </ul> <p>Process:</p> <ol> <li>ChatGPT designed the architecture</li> <li>Claude wrote most of the code via Windsurf</li> <li>I reviewed, tested, and iterated</li> <li>Deployed in one day</li> </ol> <p>The Hard Parts</p> <p>Finding scrapable data sources:</p> <ul> <li>Most sites block bots</li> <li>Had to use mix of government data + large retailers</li> <li>Currency conversion for 6+ currencies</li> </ul> <p>Making it actually work:</p> <ul> <li>Testing scraper reliability</li> <li>Handling rate limits</li> <li>Ensuring data accuracy</li> </ul> <p>Current Status</p> <p>✅ Tracking Asunción, Paraguay ($966/month)<br><br> ✅ Interactive map with 23+ LATAM cities<br><br> ✅ Multi-currency support (USD, EUR, AUD, CAD, MXN, PYG)<br><br> ✅ Weekly automated updates<br><br> ✅ Email capture for alerts </p> <p>What's Next</p> <ul> <li>Add São Paulo, Mexico City, Buenos Aires</li> <li>Price change notifications</li> <li>Historical data charts</li> <li>Validate if people actually want this</li> </ul> <p>Lessons Learned</p> <p>In 2025, execution &gt; technical perfection.</p> <p>You don't need to be a 10x engineer. You need:</p> <ol> <li>A real problem</li> <li>AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT)</li> <li>Willingness to ship fast</li> </ol> <p>Took the Pieter Levels approach: Build in public, ship fast, iterate based on feedback.</p> <p>Check it out: <a href="https://nomadinflation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://nomadinflation.com</a></p> <p>Feedback welcome! What cities should I add? What features matter most?</p> <p>Also posted on Hacker News today if you want to follow the discussion there.</p> <h1> buildinpublic #indiehacker </h1>