Jeff Ward

I'm thinking about getting a Claude subscription, because there is something I want to exist in the world that I do not have the expertise or real time to put creative effort into, but I still want it to exist -- basically a website for a very specific repository of knowledge for a very specific audience.

I feel like this is an okay use, but still hesitate because it still makes me feel dirty.

Mar 29 at 4:27pmWeb
Show threadCraig PMar 29
@fuzzybinary if you don't have the expertise to do it, Claude doesn't either. You're just guaranteeing you won't be able to tell.
Show threadJeff WardMar 29

@Craigp This is true, but it will produce something. And for something simple that's mostly a collection of content, that's probably fine.

I have "expertise" in the content, my HTML, CSS, etc, is what's lacking.

Show threadCraig PMar 29

@fuzzybinary CSS and HTML is pretty trivial, you could literally learn it in an hour. If you want to use something more complex, like an adaptive content library, Claude will be just as bad at it as you are... but in ways you can't see.

If you want something prettier than you can accomplish, just using a template takes maybe half an hour on any of a dozen templatemaker sites.

I simply don't suggest using Claude, but you do you.

Show threadMiguel ArrozMar 29
@fuzzybinary @Craigp I've built a simple website recently for my app (papervault.eu). My HTML/CSS was also very rusty and outdated. Asking things to ChatGPT when I couldn't find it easily on Google (not “make me the website" but “how do I do X”) helped a lot and the free account was enough. I'm sure with just a few searches you can get everything you need and build a pretty decent website, without subscribing to Claude.
Show threadJeff WardMar 29
@arroz @Craigp I think my biggest struggle is not the html and css, though that's a thing, it's how to make it look good. AI can *kinda* help with that, if only by copying common patterns, which it's good at.
Show threadKevin ConnerMar 29
@fuzzybinary I think you'll still be conflicted after using it, just in more detail. But the cheap plan is plenty.
Show threadSahnvourMar 29
@fuzzybinary Are you implying there is absolutely no other way of producing a website without acquiring deep knowledge of HTML/CSS ?
Show threadJeff WardMar 29
@Sahnvour absolutely not. I am mostly saying the level of energy I have to put into this is pretty low, so even getting the base level of knowledge to make it and make it look good are above that.
Show threadSahnvourMar 30
@fuzzybinary My point is that there are loads of static site generators or WYSIWYG editors that require absolutely no technical knowledge, with theming support and many themes available, so that you can focus on writing the information you want to share. And they are free, and they do not need to burn through the environment and societies to do build a website.