447: ‘A Sociopathic Father’, With Adam Lisagor
Summary
Adam Leesagor joins John Gruber to discuss building the Mac app Hovercraft using AI coding tools like Cursor, despite having no prior programming experience. They explore Leesagor’s broader work with Sandwich Vision, including the Theater app for immersive content on Apple Vision Pro. The conversation covers the shift toward "creative directing" software via AI, the high costs of token usage, and a humorous digression on Japanese Noir cookies.
Topics discussed
Vision Pro, Theater app, and immersive video business
Adam's journey into AI coding and building Hovercraft
Hovercraft feedback, Birdhouse history, and creative directing
Sponsor: Parcel package tracking app
Japanese cookies, Oreos, and snack comparisons
AI coding workflows, Cursor, and token costs
Yojimbo, Obsidian, and MCP for note management
Sponsor: Scribe documentation tool
Context continuity in AI agents and Hovercraft demo
The role of the director in AI-assisted creation
Democratization of design and the 'slop' debate
WatchLost app, AppleScript history, and tech leaps
Sponsor: Squarespace website builder
Vision Pro future, hardware rumors, and content
Vision Pro comfort, Hovercraft pricing, and wrap-up
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