Build an internal tool or automation with AI

The steps

Recommended tools link to their Agentdex pages. These are starting points, not rankings: pick what you already pay for.

1. 1

   Plan

   The manual task, inputs, outputs and who uses it.

   Use Claude Code. Good at mapping a messy manual process into clear steps.

   Or try: Gemini CLI, Cursor

   Here is how we do [task] by hand today. Turn it into steps, inputs and outputs, and tell me which parts are worth automating first.

2. 2

   Automate

   The simplest automation that removes the manual step.

   Use n8n. Open-source workflow automation you can self-host.

   Or try: Google Apps Script, GitHub Actions

   Design an n8n workflow for these steps: trigger, nodes in order, and how to handle a failed step. Then list the credentials I need to set up.

3. 3

   Build

   A small admin UI if a script is not enough.

   Use Replit Agent. Builds and hosts a small app from a prompt, handy for internal use.

   Or try: Lovable, Bolt

   Build a simple internal app: a login, a table of [records] with search, and a form to edit one. Keep it plain and readable.

4. 4

   Test

   It handles bad data and fails loudly.

   Use Aider. Works in your git repo and commits each change, so tests and fixes are easy to review.

   Or try: Claude Code, Cline

   Write tests for empty input, duplicate rows and a failed API call. Make failures send a clear alert instead of failing silently.

5. 5

   Maintain

   Someone else can run and fix it.

   Use GitHub Copilot. Common in teams, works in the editor and on PRs.

   Or try: Continue, Tabnine

   Write a README for this tool: what it does, how to run it, where secrets live, and what to do when it breaks.