Retiree builds Linux GTK calculator in VS Code with Meta Muse Spark 1.3, no code written
Using VS Code, OpenCode and the Meta Muse Spark 1.3 Contributor model on Linux, a retired hobbyist built a GTK calculator without writing any code, spending under ten cents in tokens over a few hours.
I'm finally getting off my ass and experimenting more with AI-enabled software development for hobbyist purposes now that I'm retired. I've given up on local AI because I can't justify the setup cost on something that I'm not sure I'll use long-term. I'll revisit this if costs ever come back down from the stratosphere. On my Linux workstation, I'm using the VS Code IDE paired with the OpenCode coding agent and the Meta Muse Spark 1.3 Contributor model. I had Grok create a set of instructions to walk me through setting it all up, including tests to check it all out and experiment with changing code. First, a "hello world" application, and then a GTK-C calculator GUI application for Linux. It all worked out just as Grok instructed. I didn't write one line of code, but the calculator works and looks exactly as expected. Because I'm using the very highly subsidized Contributor model, a few hours of playing around cost me under ten cents in token costs. I'm not sure where I'm going with this. For now, it's to learn how the coding agent and model work together with the underlying software project. But, longer term, I'm interested in a hybrid model where the AI and I share the coding on a project. I'd appreciate any thoughts or comments on how I'm approaching this.