Published 19 Feb 2026
Duration: 47:15
Thoughtbot is developing an open-source rapid application development tool that enables non-technical users to build functional Ruby on Rails web applications through natural language prompts.
Sami makes his triumphant return to the Giant Robots Smashing into other Giant Robots Podcast as he and his fellow hosts discuss a brand new tool curr...
The podcast outlines the development of a new rapid application development tool by Thoughtbot, designed to enable non-technical users to build functional Ruby on Rails web applications using natural language prompts. This product is being developed publicly, with source code shared throughout the process, and focuses on generating secure, readable, and maintainable code from the beginning. It will support ejecting to native code and include comprehensive testing from day one. The development process will begin with a live card sorting session to define the minimum viable product, followed by the creation of a Git repository and initial code development. The tool aims to be more comprehensive than existing solutions like the Suspenders gem, addressing the needs of product founders looking to move from prototyping tools to building full applications with Thoughtbot. The discussion also covers the advantages of Ruby on Rails convention-over-configuration philosophy and the potential for future cloud-based versions of the tool.
14 May 2026 611: Magic is the right word, with Brennan Dunn
Right Message is a small-business marketing platform leveraging first-party data and behavioral signals for personalized content without third-party tracking, emphasizing privacy, AI-driven efficiency, and a lean, user-centric model balancing growth with self-service simplicity and principled design choices.
7 May 2026 610: Its Okay Not to Use AI
A critical examination of software development in publishing, emphasizing ethical technology practices, the limitations of AI in productivity and environmental impact, the necessity of human-centric design, code quality, and the dangers of outsourcing and overreliance on emerging technologies.
30 Apr 2026 609: Pennylane is in my ears
Penny Lane is a SaaS platform streamlining small business accounting through centralized data management, automation, real-time collaboration, and technical strategies like TypeScript/React development, while differentiating via indirect distribution with accounting firms and emphasizing domain expertise, compliance, and scalable engineering practices.
16 Apr 2026 608: Project Updates with Will, Chad and Sami
AI-driven development projects explore generating production-ready Rails apps via "Ready, Set, Go," addressing AI code quality, automation challenges, mobile app conversions, geofencing apps, low-code trade-offs, and balancing speed with ethics, security, and long-term maintainability in AI-assisted workflows.
2 Apr 2026 607: Applying the Efficiency of Credit Cards to the Healthcare Industry with Raja Rajamannar
It examines how payment system innovations, like MasterCard's healthcare-focused tools and AI-driven solutions, can streamline healthcare processes, enhance efficiency, and drive cross-industry transformation through strategic design and adaptive technology.