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Dawn C. Hayes
Dawn C. Hayes Subscriber

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Build A README-To-Comic Converter With Google AI Studio And Imagen

#deved #learngoogleaistudio #ai #gemini

Education Track: Build Apps with Google AI Studio

This post is my submission for DEV Education Track: Build Apps with Google AI Studio.

What I Built

ComicReadMe is a web app (TypeScript) that transforms README.md files into comic book panels. It offers an entertaining way for potential users and contributors to learn about a project from its README content. I like interactive fiction and imagined a connection between the visual appeal of comics and interactive commands of IF (next iteration, perhaps). I used Copilot to improve my initial idea and prompt, which was partially influenced by the Google AI Studio tutorial. The final prompt ended up like so:

Build Brief: Comic Book README Converter

Objective:
Create a web app, “ComicReadMe,” that transforms any GitHub README into a fully illustrated comic-style instruction manual.

Technology Stack:

  • Google Imagen API for generating all artwork.
  • Google Gemini 2.5 for narrative text, speech bubbles, captions, and panel descriptions.

Core Features

  1. Auto-Detect Project Type

    • Analyze the README’s structure, headings, and keywords to classify it as a CLI tool, web app, or game.
    • Tailor overall art style and panel themes (minimalist for CLI, tech-noir for web apps, retro sci-fi for games).

  2. Character Avatars for Functions

    • Map each key function or component (e.g., install(), build(), deploy()) to a quirky avatar: wizard, engineer robot, rocket pilot, etc.
    • Generate a consistent “cast” for each project so readers instantly recognize the characters across panels.

  3. Dynamic Panel Generator

    • Panel 1: Title + project logo, stylized as a comic cover.
    • Panel 2: “What is this?” overview, narrated by a mascot character.
    • Panel 3: Installation sequence, with install() wizard casting spells.
    • Panel 4+: One panel per major feature or usage example.
    • Final Panel: Dramatic “Coming Soon” or “Next Release” teaser—colored splash page with bold text.

  4. UX & Output

    • Drag-and-drop a README.md or paste its URL.
    • Preview the generated comic pages.
    • Export as PDF or interactive web comic (with panel-by-panel navigation).

Demo

Try it out!
input field to upload README.md file
comic creation completion window with options to save
comic panel describing DOGEpal README

My Experience

While the builder feature works with concise, specific prompts, I have used more structured, detailed prompts with other AI editor tools. I was pleased to find the approach works with the model in Google AI Studio. I suspect more detailed prompts can be helpful in reducing the number of tweaks to make to core logic after a project is scaffolded. It may be more efficient in the long run, but it is important to keep potentially higher costs in mind with this approach.

I made adjustments to address basic issues like CORS, though the model's autofix tool did seem to make corrections without too many interventions (there was a stubborn issue where the model erroneously insisted a button fix was implemented). A tip for future use is to direct the model to account for common issues in advance to avoid unnecessary back and forth adjustments. Always review generated code. A plus: reviewing the model's "thinking" process in real time is helpful and a nice feature to have without an up-charge.

All in all, the experience was pretty smooth and fast, particularly for a cloud-based editor. In continuing ComicReadMe development, I would like to improve UI/UX, include dynamic onboarding/automated functions that enable use and deployment from within the comic panels and include social/share features. Feel free to follow the project here or on GitHub.

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