Building MealDeck — a game-like way to decide what’s for dinner — in short, focused bursts has been less about speed and more about learning how to work with an AI that’s quick, occasionally clumsy, and always in need of a steady hand. Two weeks into building MealDeck in my spare time, I’ve settled into a rhythm — part curiosity, part experiment. I’m not chasing speed for its own sake, but I am interested in seeing how far I can get working alongside an AI for just eight hours a week.

I’ve recently carved out a small window of time each week to return to hands-on coding, with the help of AI tools. This post is a reflection on what it means to re-engage with a long-standing side project — MealDeck — while balancing the demands of work, life, and everything in between. It’s also the beginning of an experiment: how far can I get with just eight focused hours a week?