App Builder
What it does
Creates fully interactive web applications from natural language descriptions. Dashboards, calculators, trackers, games, tools, landing pages, and anything else you can describe.
Setup required
None. Works immediately.
Permissions
- No macOS permissions needed (apps run in the sandbox)
- Host permissions needed only if the app needs to read/write files on your machine
Common prompts
| You say... | What happens |
|---|---|
| “Build me a habit tracker” | Creates an interactive app with daily tracking and streaks |
| “Make a pomodoro timer” | Builds a countdown timer with work/break intervals |
| “Create a budget dashboard” | Builds an app with categories, charts, and totals |
| “Build a quiz about world capitals” | Creates an interactive quiz game |
| “Make a portfolio site for my photography” | Builds a presentational website |
| “Create a mood tracker with a calendar view” | Builds a visual tracker with date-based input |
| “Build me a kanban board” | Creates a drag-and-drop task board |
What it builds
Apps are built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They:
- Open in their own panel in the desktop app
- Are fully interactive (buttons, inputs, animations, state)
- Persist so you can come back to them
- Follow a design system with consistent styling
- Can be iterated on after creation
Iterating on apps
First version not quite right? Just say so:
“Add a dark mode toggle.”
“Make the charts bigger.”
“Change the color scheme to blues and purples.”
“Add an export-to-CSV button.”
Your assistant makes targeted edits to the existing app. No need to start over.
App types
| Type | What it's for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| App (default) | Interactive tools with state and logic | Calculators, dashboards, trackers, games |
| Site | Presentational pages without complex state | Portfolios, landing pages, resumes |
Configuration
- No configuration needed
- Apps use the Vellum design system by default (semantic colors, spacing, components)
- You can specify aesthetics: “make it minimal,” “go bold and colorful,” “dark mode”
Tips & gotchas
- Be descriptive, not technical. Say “build me a budget tracker with categories” not “create an HTML page with a JavaScript array and DOM manipulation.” Let your assistant handle the implementation.
- Go big. Your assistant can build surprisingly complex apps. Multi-page forms, real-time dashboards, animated games. Don't limit yourself.
- Quality standards: Apps include hover states, animations, proper typography, and responsive layouts by default. If something looks off, just ask for a fix.
- Not for long-form writing. If you want to write a blog post or article, use the document editor instead. App Builder is for interactive things.
- Home Base is a special app that serves as your dashboard. You can customize it: “Add a button to my dashboard for checking email.”