The Story Behind AssMan.AI
I'm a former developer who switched into technical product management. After spending years away from writing code, I wanted to explore what was possible with the new wave of AI development tools.
As a long-time Football Manager player, I saw an opportunity to build something I'd actually use while learning these new tools. The idea was simple: create an AI-powered assistant that could analyze tactics and help with squad decisions.
What started as a learning project grew into something more. Building AssMan.AI showed me what's now possible for solo builders and non-technical founders. That experience inspired me to leave my job and start my own company focused on building real software products.
I've documented the entire journey in these articles, from the technical implementation details to the broader lessons about building products with AI tools.
Build Log: Creating AssMan.AI
How I Built an AI Product With Lovable.dev (No Code): Full Breakdown, Costs, and Insights
Breaking down how I built my first AI product using Lovable.dev, including architecture, costs, decisions, analytics, and early lessons.
How to Validate Product Ideas Using Reddit and ChatGPT Before Building
How I used Reddit and ChatGPT to validate product features before building with no-code tools, including research process, actual data, and prioritization decisions non-technical founders can replicate.
How I Built an AI Tactic Analyzer Using Lovable, Supabase, and OpenAI
A step-by-step breakdown of building AssMan.ai's AI tactic analyzer using Lovable, Supabase, and OpenAI. Covers prompt design, backend schema decisions, API integration, validation, and cost control for non-technical founders.
Build a Throwaway Prototype First: How I Use Vibe Coding to Avoid Tech Debt
Why I build a throwaway prototype in Lovable before creating the real product. A rapid iteration process that reveals what NOT to build, mitigates tech debt, and lets you explore fast without committing to bad architecture.
What I Write About
I write about building software with AI tools like Lovable, focusing on the decisions, tradeoffs, and real outcomes that come from actually shipping products. AssMan.ai was my first build, and it reached over 105K visitors in five months. If you want to follow more stories about what I'm building and how I think through validation, prototyping, and implementation, subscribe to my newsletter.
More articles at johnbrawner.com/writing