Desktop journaling App: "Generate"

I’d like to create a journaling app for Windows or Mac. Is there a way to setup the skeleton in a super easy way using Codex?

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I don’t think anyone really uses desktop-based installed apps anymore. You would probably have better luck focusing on a mobile app or web interface.

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I was asking out of self-interest.

Like the way they demonstrate, here: “Start a Python web server…

To abstract this process: Creating Windows desktop applications…

Then add things like:

  • Add a text area input
  • Change the background to a color that doesn’t hurt my eyes
  • Make F5 a keyboard shortcut to insert the date and time in the text area

I’m just curious if it could work this easily (I haven’t used Codex); because as I mentioned, I want an app (that’s not connected to the internet) to free write, automatic write, turn over ideas…using a keyboard. And I thought this should be easy, right? :sweat_smile: perhaps, I need to do more research–but fishing for a hot take from a Codex user.

I don’t see why this would be too difficult for components of basic apps, but Codex isn’t capable of generating complex applications on its own. For instance, you may have to ask Codex to write pieces of the app, but you will still need to put in the work to explain what the app does, how each component should look, etc. Even if Codex could infer exactly what you wanted, you would hit the 4096 token limit pretty quickly, even with a simple journaling app!

For refernce, I tried prompting codex with a C# summary of a basic form instead. Looks like this form could be used (with some small changes) in a desktop app, but you would definitely need a developer to implement it:
/// <summary> A simple WinForms app with a text area input. Change the background colour to dark grey. </summary>

Result:

public class SimpleApp : Form
{
    private TextBox textBox;
    private Button button;
    private Label label;

    public SimpleApp()
    {
        this.Text = "Simple App";
        this.Size = new Size(400, 400);
        this.BackColor = Color.DarkGray;

        this.textBox = new TextBox();
        this.textBox.Location = new Point(10, 10);
        this.textBox.Size = new Size(this.Width - 20, 30);
        this.textBox.Text = "Enter text here";
        this.textBox.TextChanged += this.TextBox_TextChanged;
        this.Controls.Add(this.textBox);

        this.button = new Button();
        this.button.Location = new Point(10, 50);
        this.button.Size = new Size(this.Width - 20, 30);
        this.button.Text = "Click me";
        this.button.Click += this.Button_Click;
        this.Controls.Add(this.button);

        this.label = new Label();
        this.label.Location = new Point(10, 90);
        this.label.Size = new Size(this.Width - 20, 30);
        this.label.Text = "Click the button to see the text";
        this.Controls.Add(this.label);
    }

    private void TextBox_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        this.label.Text = this.textBox.Text;
    }

    private void Button_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        this.label.Text = this.textBox.Text;
    }
}
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This is so cool and amazing. Thanks :pray:

I’m keen on exploring the Codex for learning code faster…working in a new framework or language takes much learning time…the pattern here, that it generated would be helpful. I thought.