An ideabot

I wanted a place to catch ideas before I forgot them. Something as easy as sending a text, with a way to come back later and see everything I've been thinking about. So I built an ideabot.

It's a Python script running on a Mac mini. I text it an idea, and it uses Claude to do a little initial research and fill in some of the blanks. It saves that information in a Notion database, giving me a starting point that I can edit and expand upon as I work on the project. I also send it links to things I want to remember, so those have a home alongside the ideas.

The other half is a web app that turns the collection into an idea cloud. I can look around, see how things connect, and open an idea for a closer look. There's also a list view for finding something specific. A place for the things I might make, and the things I don't want to lose track of.

The screenshots below use made-up ideas and links to show how it works.

Desktop idea cloud with colored clusters of ideas and diamond-shaped saved links connected across themes.
The idea cloud — a view of everything collected, with connections between ideas and saved links.
Desktop idea detail panel showing a sample pocket synth project, its progress, related link, and research notes.
A closer look at an idea, with notes, related links, and a place to track progress.
Searchable desktop list of sample ideas and saved links, organized by theme and date.
The list view keeps ideas and things worth remembering in one searchable place.
Phone view of the idea cloud, showing colored idea clusters and connections on a dark background.
The idea cloud on a phone.
Phone view of a selected sample idea with progress controls, theme, related link, and research notes.
Opening an idea for a closer look.
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