Meet Websim, the AI playground that lets you create anything you can imagine in seconds

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a great idea for a shower app that never saw the light of day because you didn’t know how to make it happen. You’re not alone. Well, maybe, thanks to Rob Haisfield and his Websim project, these jewels that will never be born will burst forth in the future into a glorious life.

Websim, a zero-hype, no-brand project that appeared out of nowhere, has sparked the kind of excitement that usually only happens with mega-funded startup launches.

The app, if that’s what you can call it, offers a rich palette of potential for anyone who has ever had an idea for an app they wanted to create, but didn’t know how to get started.

The basic premise is to use the Websim AI platform to produce complete applications from a simple text prompt and a little ingenuity. It is powered by one of OpenAI’s leading AI models, Anthropic, and others such as Claude 3.5 Sonnet and GPT-4o.

In my case, I selected the current best model, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and thus benefited from really fast and consistent coding, which made it almost addictive to use.

How does Websim work?

Websim

(Image credit: Websim)

To start, you’re faced with a catalog of home pages filled with sample apps created by other users, and at the top of the screen, the all-important prompt box. Gather your thoughts and type in the desired prompt to set things in motion. And by things, I mean Claude getting to work creating code, interfaces, and styles to deliver your idea right there, instantly, on your screen. It’s a miracle to behold.

I decided to recreate one of my favorite Atari arcade games from the 1980s, Missile Command. For those who don’t know, it’s a game where you have towers/cities that are attacked by falling missiles that you have to intercept with a click of the mouse or button. Once your towers are destroyed, you lose and your high score is recorded.

My first prompt entered directly into the URL box at the top was simple, “Make a missile command game, please”I’m always polite to AI for some strange reason, and always have been.

Within seconds, a sparse but unmistakable screen appeared with a fully playable version of the retro Missile Command. Sure, it didn’t have all the bells and whistles, but I was blown away by how good it was for a five-word message.

Websim

(Image credit: Websim)

I played around a bit, then decided to improve the interface. Second point: “Add restart and start new game buttons. Also add a high score window.”

And that’s where it happened. The mind continues to be boggled. Remember, I’m not giving any instructions regarding layout, colors, or operability, just a basic prompt. Still, the buttons are placed in the most logical place, and the high score box is in the top right of the screen, where you’d normally expect to find it.

Websim

(Image credit: Websim)

After playing more, I discovered that there were other things missing. Several more suggestions followed, as I developed the features the game deserved.

Websim

(Image credit: Websim)

Oh man, that was fun. But could the UI be updated to look more modern and less retro?

It was possible, and it did. I kept playing, wild laughter bursting from my lips every time I was soundly defeated by the terribly difficult game mechanics.

Websim

(Image credit: Websim)

But then came the big challenge. I wanted to see how far I could go with my requirements. How far could I push the model creatively in terms of a more modern user interface?

“Can you put it in a more 3D graphical space landscape, like No Man’s Sky. Turn the green blocks into 3D buildings and the desert in the background with mountains on the horizon. A dark starry sky, beautiful modern and attractive 3D graphics.”

Websim

(Image credit: Websim)

Boom! To say I was speechless is an understatement. I think you have to understand what it’s like to see an AI translate your thoughts into reality before your eyes. It’s more than disconcerting, it’s a positively mystical experience.

Try doing this with a real programmer and see how far you get. I know, I’ve tried in the past… many times. It usually doesn’t end well without pages of specifications, intentions, goals, feature definitions, and lots of coffee.

And there you have it. In about two hours, I recreated a Windows arcade game that was playable and fun. Sure, it didn’t have all the extra features of the original, and the design was still a bit wonky, but I plan to make improvements later when I have time.

After all, I’m only one or two text messages away from perfection, right?

Final Thoughts

Websim

(Image credit: Websim)

Right now, I’m forced to sit comfortably in my chair, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, thinking this is the worst I can possibly live with, while trying to figure out what this kind of technology will mean for the future of work, programming, and entertainment.

PS: I also created a Comic Maker!