Penguins and pasta: What I learned from making an app in 4 weeks with AI

Participating in the RevenueCat Shipyard competition pushed the author to develop a multifunctional app within a tight four-week deadline, utilizing various AI tools and platforms to expedite the process. The project, aimed at creating an app to help users save money and offer investment guidance, faced challenges such as integrating diverse features and dealing with AI limitations, particularly with Google's tools, which were often unreliable. Despite these hurdles, the author leveraged OpenCode and other AI models to streamline tasks, although issues such as hallucinations and misallocated features occasionally arose. The experience highlighted both the potential and pitfalls of relying on AI for rapid development, with lessons learned emphasizing the importance of careful oversight and cost management when using advanced AI models like Opus 4.5/4.6. Although the app did not win the competition, the journey provided valuable insights into the capabilities and limitations of current AI technology in software development.