The Concept

My goal was to create a tool that would clearly display my financial inflows and outflows. No more sifting through papers or wrestling with convoluted spreadsheets. I envisioned a colorful interface with charts that would simplify my financial overview. Initially, I sketched my concept, which looked promising in theory, yet I quickly realized I lacked the programming expertise to bring it to life. I thought, “How difficult could it be?”

Learning Through Challenges

My initial attempts were less than successful. I tried to build everything from scratch, which proved overwhelming. After about ten minutes of frustration, I paused to reassess what I truly wanted my dashboard to accomplish. I determined it should:

• Display my income and expenses
• Illustrate where my money goes
• Help clarify my investments
• Offer friendly financial advice

At that point, my idea was stuck in the "thinking phase." This was my first misstep. I then input a prompt to obtain a solution within 15 seconds, and the LLM model promptly adjusted itself.

Mistake number two was that my initial dashboard lacked interactivity; it simply repeated the same responses. To remedy this, I provided a new prompt to enhance its interactivity and also switched the coding language from Python to HTML to refine the dashboard further.

Seeing my expenditures represented in vibrant charts for the first time was exhilarating. It felt like I was finally able to grasp my financial situation. Being able to input my own data and watch the charts adapt was incredibly satisfying.

Crafting the chatbot was enjoyable. I pondered creative ways to encourage spending less on things like online shopping. This experience taught me that managing finances involves not just numbers, but also our mindset and habits.

After dedicating 15 to 20 minutes to this project, my dashboard was complete. I tested it with various inputs and the results were illuminating. I realized I was spending significantly more on shopping than I had anticipated! Although I wasn't saving as much as I wished, this clarity was invaluable.

Mistake number three occurred when I mistakenly entered numbers instead of percentages, which indicated I had a high-risk appetite—a mathematically sound conclusion.

After correcting my error, I was pleased to see that the system accurately indicated my conservative allocation.

Key Takeaways for Developing an Interactive Dashboard with Claude 3.5 Sonnet:

• Clarify Your Purpose: Identify the financial issues your dashboard aims to address.
• Simplicity is Key: Focus on 3-5 essential features you want to track.
• Visual Appeal: Use color schemes and layouts that are easy on the eyes.
• Mobile Compatibility: Ensure the dashboard functions well on smartphones.
• Interactivity is Fun: Incorporate elements that respond to user input.
• Use Everyday Language: Avoid jargon—keep it relatable.
• Plan for the Future: Leave room for growth and additional features.
• Seek Input: Get feedback from friends on what they want in a financial dashboard.
• Personalize It: Allow users to enter their unique financial data.
• Include Help Features: Consider adding tips or a chatbot for clarification.

Remember, the only thing holding you back from creating something remarkable is yourself! Give it a shot.

Lastly, there's a common misconception that LLM models are only for the younger generation. Not true! My father is currently learning to use Claude and ChatGPT for his daily tasks.

I hope you found this article insightful.

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