"I didn't plan to become a software developer. I just wanted better tools for my knitting and crochet work."

I didn't plan to become a software developer. I didn't even plan to touch code again, honestly. I just wanted better tools for my knitting and crochet work.

The truth is – there just weren't any. Nothing out there really did what I needed for designing and calculating patterns efficiently. So, like any stubborn creative person, I said to myself: "Well, what if I just make it myself?"

I had played a bit with Python ages ago – just the basics, nothing fancy. But I'm not a normal person 😅 so instead of giving up, I decided to try.

And that decision turned into something I couldn't have imagined.

🤖 My "Coding Buddy"

When I started, I knew I didn't have the skills to build the kind of big, complex tools I wanted – not alone. That's when I turned to AI.

AI became my coding partner. I give it structure, direction, logic – and it gives me functioning code. Together, we somehow built things I once thought were way out of reach.

Since March 2025, I've launched several Android apps, deployed my own e-commerce platform, and now I'm testing my first on-device AI SDKs (for Python and Android). Saying that out loud still feels surreal.

I'm not saying it's easy, but it's… doable. The way I see things – as patterns and architecture, not syntax – makes it easier to "speak AI." I think that's why it works.

🚀 Why I Build Faster Than I Should

Here's what I've learned:
I don't code like a traditional developer. I see systems – how things connect, how they flow, how each part supports the next.

When I ask AI to build something, I don't just say "make me an app."
I say things like:

"Create an MVC structure with a secure REST API on this port, connecting to this database, using this data pipeline."

It's specific, it's structured, and AI understands that better than vague ideas.
That's how I can move so fast – not because I'm a genius, but because I treat AI like a real partner instead of a magic trick.

I think the modern developer's job isn't to type faster – it's to think clearer.

🎯 From Patterns to Production

It still surprises me how far this approach goes. I can now build complex systems that actually work in production – not just prototypes.

While most teams spend weeks setting up DevOps and MLOps pipelines, I use AI to handle the boring setup stuff. I focus on:

• defining data flows,
• designing logic,
• and keeping everything lightweight and scalable.

That's how I ended up with tools that started in the world of yarncraft – and now could easily fit into broader tech spaces.

It's funny how small ideas can grow if you just keep going.

😤 The Creator's Conundrum

But there's one part that isn't funny at all.

No matter how good your projects are, they don't matter if nobody knows they exist.

To make others aware of my work – so they can actually use or learn from it – I have to be visible. I have to show up online, post, explain, record… and that takes forever.

Making a single 10-minute YouTube video can eat up days – scripting, filming, editing, sound, SEO – all for one post.

So now I constantly feel like I have to pick between building and being seen.
And that's a really hard choice.

There are probably countless developers out there building incredible tools that nobody will ever hear about – not because they're not good enough, but because they don't have time to keep up with the content machine.

And honestly? That frustrates me. Because I'm one of them.

💡 Building What Matters

If there's one thing this journey has taught me, it's that you don't need a Computer Science degree to build something powerful.
You just need vision, persistence, and the courage to start messy and keep learning.

AI won't replace the developer – it changes what "developing" means. It rewards structure, creativity, and clarity of thought.

My goal isn't just to make software. It's to make tools that make creation itself easier – for artists, educators, and developers who just want to bring their ideas to life.

So yes, I'll keep trying to find that balance between building and sharing – between code and camera.

Because maybe the real challenge isn't writing code or getting views…
Maybe it's learning how to stay true to your purpose while doing both.

👩‍💻 About the Author

AI-SymDev Girl is an independent developer, educator, and creator of the AI-SymDev ecosystem – a growing family of tools, SDKs, and learning experiences designed to help people understand and harness the power of AI in real creation.

What's your story? Have you ever built something that started from a simple need and grew into something bigger? Let's connect and share our journeys.

#AISymDev #DeveloperJourney #AIAssistedDevelopment #FromYarnToServer #CreatorLife #BuildingWithAI

AI-SymDev Girl