The latest articles on DEV Community by Justin (@justin_6cbd55fba6cae3509a). https://dev.to/justin_6cbd55fba6cae3509a https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4132341%2Fb3542e4e-3e58-4b87-a636-48d4d9998f93.png https://dev.to/justin_6cbd55fba6cae3509a en Justin Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:24:02 +0000 https://dev.to/justin_6cbd55fba6cae3509a/a-firefighter-used-chatgpt-and-codex-to-build-an-offline-iphone-predator-caller-3988 https://dev.to/justin_6cbd55fba6cae3509a/a-firefighter-used-chatgpt-and-codex-to-build-an-offline-iphone-predator-caller-3988 <p>I’m a hunter and firefighter without a traditional app-development background. I got tired of YouTube ads interrupting coyote stands, so I used ChatGPT and Codex to help turn an idea into a working iPhone app.</p> <p>PREDATOR is designed to work offline and play calls through the Bluetooth speaker a hunter already owns. The product decisions are being shaped around how I actually hunt rather than around ad-supported playback.</p> <p>The interesting part for me has been seeing how far an AI-assisted solo builder can go—from an idea, through a working mobile app, to recruiting real-world testers. The next step is field testing with actual coyote hunters who can find the rough edges before release.</p> <p>If you’re curious about the project or want to see the field-testing page, it’s here:</p> <p><a href="https://sites.google.com/view/predatorfieldtesting/home" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://sites.google.com/view/predatorfieldtesting/home</a></p> <p>I’d especially like to hear from other builders who have used ChatGPT or Codex to ship something outside their original professional background. What changed when your project met real users instead of just working on your own device?</p> showdev ai buildinpublic ios