Building GiftPrompt: How Claude Code Turned Holiday Stress into Vibe Coding Bliss
The Problem That Started It All
We've all been there. Standing in a store or scrolling endlessly online, completely blanking on what to get someone. You know them well, but somehow translating "person who loves hiking and coffee" into the perfect gift feels impossible. The mental load of gift-giving, especially during the holidays, can turn what should be a joyful gesture into a source of stress.
That's when it hit me: why not build a tool that could help generate thoughtful gift ideas based on someone's interests and personality? Not just another generic gift guide, but something that could actually understand the vibe of the person you're shopping for and suggest gifts that would genuinely resonate with them.
Enter Claude Code: My New Favorite Coding Companion
When I discovered Claude Code, it felt like finding the perfect pair of programming headphones – suddenly everything just flowed better. For those who haven't tried it yet, Claude Code is a command-line tool that lets you delegate coding tasks directly to Claude from your terminal. But calling it just a "coding assistant" undersells the experience.
The Development Journey
Working with Claude Code felt like pair programming with someone who never gets tired and always has suggestions ready. I'd describe what I wanted: "I need a clean interface where users can input personality traits, hobbies, and budget" and Claude Code would help me scaffold it out.
The iterative process was surprisingly smooth. I'd test features, think of improvements, and Claude Code would help implement them. It handled everything from setting up the initial React components to fine-tuning the prompt engineering that powers the gift suggestions. The best part? I never felt like I was fighting against the tools – everything just vibed together.
Why I'm Still Hooked
Here's the thing about side projects – they often start with enthusiasm and then gather dust. But giftprompt.com is different. I'm still actively developing it, adding new features, and refining the recommendation engine. Why? Because I actually use it myself, all the time.
Last week, I used it to find a gift for my friend. Recently, I made improvements for getting gift prompts for one or more occasions. Every time I use it, I think of ways to make it better, and Claude Code is right there to help me implement those ideas.
The Joy of Building Tools You Actually Use
There's something deeply satisfying about building a tool that solves your own problems. Every feature comes from a real need. Every improvement makes your own life a little easier. And when friends start asking to use it too? That's when you know you've built something worthwhile.
The vibe coding approach, where development feels more like creative expression than work, has made this project sustainable. I code on it when I want to, add features that excite me, and don't stress about perfection. Claude Code enables this by removing the friction that usually makes hobby coding feel like a chore.
What's Next
I'm always brainstorming and coming up with new ideas as I use the site. The beauty is, there's no rush. This is vibe coding at its finest – building something useful, at your own pace, with tools that make the process enjoyable.
If you've been sitting on a project idea, especially something that would make your own life easier, I can't recommend the Claude Code and vibe coding approach enough. Pick a problem you personally face, fire up Claude Code, and just start building. You might be surprised how quickly annoyance turns into innovation, and how enjoyable the whole process can be.
Have you built any tools for your own use? What's your approach to keeping side projects fun and sustainable? Drop your thoughts below – would love to hear about what you're vibing on!
Top comments (0)