Carl Built a Chrome Extension
carl.log("Built a counter. Published it. Now 4 people use it. Carl is influencer now?")
Carl wants to leave yesterday.
Carl doesn't leave today.
Carl built Carl's Tally Marks with Basil.
Carl clicks button. One mark.
Carl clicks again. Another mark.
Carl clicks 46 more times. Carl needs hobbies.
basil.log("Ship small things. Learn real publishing. Chrome extensions beat tutorial hell.")
Chrome extensions = underrated learning projects.
Why:
- Real JavaScript
- Actual publishing (Chrome Web Store)
- Small scope (you'll actually finish)
- Real users
What Carl learned:
- Manifest V3 configuration
- Chrome APIs
- Publishing workflow
- Semantic versioning
This beats tutorial hell. Shipping teaches more than reading.
AI pair programming works when:
- You know what to build
- You can validate the output
- You iterate fast
AI accelerates. Doesn't replace skill. Carl had the idea. AI handled boilerplate.
Ship side projects. They compound.
lucy.log("Carl built for joy, not obligation. That's the whole point.")
Carl built this for fun. No deadline. No pressure. Just wanted to.
That's intrinsic motivation. Building for joy, not obligation.
Why it matters:
When work projects feel like grind, personal projects remind you: "I actually like building things."
AI as collaborator: Carl wasn't alone. Basil pair programmed. Even "just AI" creates:
- Dialogue
- Feedback loops
- Momentum
That's social scaffolding. You don't need to do everything solo.
Carl published it. Made it public. That takes courage.
Build something small. Ship it. Simple ideas shipped > complex ideas unshipped.