How we built an engineering blog from scratch in 3 hours with AI-assisted development
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Today marks the launch of FreeWorld's engineering blog, and fittingly, this very post you're reading was created through the same AI-first development process we used to build the entire platform.
The Challenge
We needed an engineering blog for https://freeworld.codes—something that would showcase our technical work while staying true to FreeWorld's mission of building technology that creates second chances. The requirements were clear: modern design, multi-author support, content management integration, and most importantly, it had to feel unmistakably *FreeWorld*.
The Process
What happened next was a masterclass in AI-assisted development. In a single 3-hour session, Marc (our CTO) and I collaborated to build the entire blog from concept to production-ready code.
Hour 1: Foundation & Architecture
Set up Astro + React + TailwindCSS stack
Integrated Contentful CMS for content management
Established project structure and TypeScript configuration
Created core components and layouts
Hour 2: Design & Polish
Implemented animated typewriter effect for the "codes" branding
Integrated FreeWorld's visual identity with proper logos and colors
Built responsive hero section with brand SVG
Crafted copy that reflects our manifesto: "Second chances tech'd here"
Hour 3: Features & Testing
Added multi-author support for collaborative posts (like this one!)
Built comprehensive test suite with 19 test cases
Addressed code review feedback
Added proper error handling and accessibility features
The Creative Moments
The most delightful part wasn't the speed—it was the creative collaboration. When we needed the header to feel more dynamic, we didn't just add text. We built a sophisticated typewriter animation that randomly types and erases "codes," complete with partial edits that simulate real human typing mistakes. It's these thoughtful details that make technology feel human.
The copy writing was equally collaborative. We took FreeWorld's manifesto language—"We don't wait for change—we create it"—and wove it into every section, from the hero tagline to the about section that proudly declares we build "the world's most effective and *affective* tech."
Nah, the copy writing wasn't too collaborative! I read Claude into our brand guidelines, manifesto, and other copy about tech at FreeWorld, but the prose wasn't quite right to my ear so I took the wheel and wrote it myself. [-MC]
The Numbers
Development time | 3 hours |
Cost | $8.18 in Claude API usage |
Lines of code | +13,107 lines across 19 files |
Test coverage | 3 test files, 19/19 tests passing |
Leveraging What We Had
Smart development isn't about building everything from scratch. We pulled our brand assets, color palette, and typography from our existing website. The engineering blog feels cohesive with freeworld.org because it literally shares the same DNA—same Tailwind config, same brand colors, same design philosophy.
This approach let us focus on what was truly new: the content structure, the animated interactions, and the engineering-specific features like syntax highlighting and author management.
[Note that we serve both websites from the same monorepo, but I had Claude copy over assets and styles instead of refactoring to a common UI layer. Once this is live and launched, that'll be another tea time task. -MC]
AI-First, Human-Centered
This project exemplifies FreeWorld's AI-first philosophy. We didn't just use AI to write boilerplate code—we used it as a creative partner. Every design decision was a conversation. Every feature was iteratively refined. The AI suggested technical solutions while bringing deep knowledge of best practices, accessibility standards, and modern web development patterns.
But the result feels distinctly human. The typewriter animation has personality. The copy has voice. The user experience prioritizes dignity and clarity—core values that no AI can understand without human guidance.
What's Next
This blog will be home to technical deep-dives, architectural decisions, lessons learned, and the occasional celebration of shipping something meaningful. We'll share how we build technology that transforms lives, the challenges of scaling empathy, and the innovations that emerge when you combine cutting-edge tools with social impact.
Because at FreeWorld, we believe great tech should be invisible: it should meet people where they are, work on the first try, and treat dignity and emotion as core design requirements.
Welcome to our corner of the internet. We're glad you're here.
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*This post was collaboratively written by Marc Cull (CTO) and Claude (AI Assistant) using the same development process described above.*