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Jon ellisdon
Jon ellisdon

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How a QA Tester Used AI to Build a CSS Grid Learning Tool

#ai #beginners #css #tooling

My Background

I'm a QA tester, not a developer. But I wanted to understand what
AI could really do, so I set myself a challenge: could I use Claude
(Anthropic's AI) to build something genuinely useful for people
learning to code?

The Goal

I wanted to create a CSS Grid learning tool that:

  • Helps beginners avoid common mistakes
  • Provides instant visual feedback
  • Teaches while you experiment
  • Is completely free

The Result

After months of iteration, I built Gridlock Holmes:
[Link: https://gridlock-holmes.com]

Features:

  • Interactive tutorials with live preview
  • Smart error detection (catches typos, wrong units, syntax errors)
  • Multiple export formats (CSS, Tailwind, JS, SCSS)
  • Educational validation with helpful suggestions
  • 100% free, no signup required

The Process

I worked with Claude in an iterative way:

  1. I'd describe what I wanted
  2. Claude would generate the code
  3. I'd test thoroughly (QA background!)
  4. I'd find issues or think of improvements
  5. Repeat 50+ times

Key insight: My QA mindset was actually PERFECT for this. I
naturally think about:

  • What errors will users make?
  • What feedback would be helpful?
  • How can we prevent frustration?

What I Learned

About AI:

  • AI is amazing at execution, but you need clear direction
  • Testing and iteration are crucial
  • It's like having a very skilled intern

About CSS Grid:

  • Understanding common beginner mistakes required research
  • The educational approach required empathy for learners

About Product Creation:

  • You don't need to write code to create software
  • Clear vision + testing skills + AI = functional product
  • Validation from users is incredibly motivating

What's Next

I'm exploring AI-powered features like:

  • AI-generated layouts based on descriptions
  • Smart suggestions for responsive breakpoints
  • More advanced tutorials

Try It Out

Check it out: https://gridlock-holmes.com

I'd love feedback on:

  1. The tool itself
  2. This approach to building with AI
  3. What other features would help CSS Grid learners?

Questions?

Happy to share more about the process, working with AI, or anything else!

Tags: #css #webdev #ai #learning #tutorial

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