In an unexpected intersection of fitness and generative AI, a runner has demonstrated how rapidly modern language models can produce functional creative tools—even under physically demanding conditions. The project set out to solve a familiar frustration: finding music with the right tempo and energy to sustain a run.
From Voice Prompts to Live-Code Prototype
The initial concept relied on Strudel REPL, an open-source, code-based environment designed for live-coding music. The idea was to build an interface with sliders and dials that would generate randomized high-BPM beats. Despite a prompt filled with typos and sentence fragments, the underlying model correctly interpreted the fragmented instruction. However, pulling in the required dependencies and monitoring a live-coding environment while running proved impractical. Reading code with one eye and watching the path with the other quickly revealed the limits of the approach.
Switching to a Full Front-End Stack
A pivot to a full front-end web application changed the outcome. Early attempts were hindered when the developer inadvertently used a less capable model variant, 3.1 Flash-light, which produced working but overly simplistic results. Instead of a rich, multi-tonal trance sound kit with interactive controls, the output was essentially a souped-up metronome. Selecting the more advanced Pro model transformed the tool. The final prototype delivers a multi-tonal synthesizer where users can set the BPM, randomize tones, and manipulate pitch, reverb, and attack to trigger on-demand breakdowns. While not flawless, the resulting web app delivered precisely the kind of dynamic, tailored music experience the runner sought.
A Glimpse of On-the-Go Creation
The prototype, whose source code is available on Pastebin, stands as a compact but striking example of what is technically achievable in the most active situations. It underscores how prompt engineering has matured to the point where even garbled, real-world requests can yield coherent, working software—whether at a desk or mid-stride.
Source: pastebin.com