Field Notes

Writing

Field notes on building and running AI-built software, from replacing a QuickBooks subscription to the six months that turned a five-day prototype into a live app.

By Michael Pierce · MDPSync · 2026

Replacing Software You Rent

mdpBooks, a local-first Mac accounting app that replaces QuickBooks
Build It Yourself

Replacing QuickBooks With a Single Plan

A single-member LLC owner trades a $500-a-year QuickBooks and Simplifi habit for one local-first Mac app, built in a day from a reviewed plan. The plan is included, free to copy.

Build It Yourself Claude AI Swift Schedule C
SyncToDesktop, an Android to Mac file sharing app
Build It Yourself

The Era of Personalized Apps Is Here

A cross-device file-sharing app for Android and Mac that relays through a self-hosted Pi, built in a weekend from a single prompt, with no subscriptions and no third parties.

Homelab Claude AI Swift Kotlin

Running AI-Built Software in Production

Haunts.IO system architecture chalkboard diagram
Haunts.IO

Haunts.IO, Six Months Later: The Other 80%

Vibe coding got the prototype built in five days, and six months of testing, guardrails, and operational machinery made it a public app with a growing userbase.

Haunts.IO Vibe Coding Testing Architecture
daily-briefing-pi Mac app showing ranked log findings
Homelab

Claude Isn't Just for Coding, it's an expert Sys Admin

Eight days of piping homelab logs through Claude turned into a production sysadmin pipeline with 1,190 tracked findings, and then into a full 32-to-64-bit migration I was told would not be worth it.

Homelab Claude AI Log Analysis Raspberry Pi

How the Method Started

The Rock Cave Mosh Pit feature, built during the 7-day sprint
Personal Journal

From Skeptic to Believer

A personal diary of my first week with vibe-coding, from raw prompts to plans, CLAUDE.md, and Superpowers, as a skeptical CTO became a convert over 7 sleepless days.

Personal Journal Claude AI Planning 7-Day Sprint
The Rock Cave platform, built with vibe-coding methodology
Guide

Vibe-Coding: A Practical Guide

A hands-on CTO's first-person account of building a full-stack community platform and mobile apps in 7 days with Claude AI, covering the methodology and the mistakes along with the results.

Guide Claude AI Full-Stack Mobile

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