What Has Changed in 20 Years: From Programmer Specs to AI Dialogue

Over the past twenty years, the world of technology has changed beyond recognition, and with it, my approach to automation and product creation has transformed. If, in the past, realizing a business idea required writing detailed technical specifications and waiting months for results from a team of programmers, today, dialogue with artificial intelligence allows ideas to be brought to life much faster and more efficiently, even without deep coding skills. My story of creating formspace.design is a vivid testament to this.

The Beginning: The Era of Technical Specs and 'Black Boxes' (1990s – Early 2000s)

My experience interacting with programmers began back in the 90s when I was deputy director at NPF 'Alkar'. We developed software for training methodologies, and I set tasks for management accounting. Back then, it was a real challenge: I had to not only formulate what I wanted to achieve but also translate it into a language understandable to technical specialists. The process was long, expensive, and often opaque. You hand over the technical specification, and it disappears into a 'black box' for months. The result didn't always meet expectations because details were lost in interpretation, and iterations were too slow to quickly adjust course.

Landscape Business and the Lack of Flexible Solutions ('Dom i Sad')

When I founded the company 'Dom i Sad' in 2000, the need for automation became even more acute. Managing projects, clients, materials, and teams – all of this required systematic approaches. I quickly realized that ready-made Western CRM systems, though available, were not suitable for the specifics of the landscape business. They didn't account for the uniqueness of our documentation, the peculiarities of calculations, seasonality, or multi-stage projects. I even wrote about this in the article Why ready-made Western CRMs are not suitable for the CIS landscape business.

We continued trying to automate processes, hiring programmers to refine or create solutions from scratch. But each time, it was the same scenario: lengthy technical specifications, high budgets, and, unfortunately, often unfinished projects. I lost a lot of money and time due to such attempts, and one of the most expensive lessons was precisely related to an unfinished automation project in a landscape company. For example, manually calculating an estimate for an average 15-sotka plot with 10-15 types of materials (from plants to paths and irrigation) took 2-3 days, and calculation errors could lead to overspending or underestimation of 5-10% of the material cost. These were not just numbers, but lost profits and dissatisfied clients.

From Technical Specs to Dialogue: The Emergence of Accessible No-Code/Low-Code Tools and Personal Experience

The last 10-15 years brought a revolution to the world of development. No-code and low-code platforms emerged, allowing people without deep technical backgrounds to create complex applications. But the real breakthrough for me happened when, at 61, I started learning to code with the help of artificial intelligence. This was a completely new level of interaction. Instead of explaining to a human what I wanted, I began to 'talk' to AI, formulating tasks in natural language, and it generated code that I then refined and tested.

Artificial Intelligence as a Development Partner

For me, AI is not just a tool, but a true partner. It helps not only write code but also fix errors, suggest architectural solutions, and optimize algorithms. This significantly accelerated the process of creating formspace.design. If developing a specific module used to take months, with AI, I can get a working prototype in days or even hours. My domain expertise in landscape design combined with AI capabilities proved to be a much more powerful combination than if I had simply tried to hire programmers. AI doesn't replace domain knowledge; it enhances it, allowing one to focus on logic and user experience rather than programming language syntax.

Common Mistakes on the Path to Automation

Based on my many years of experience, I can highlight several key mistakes to avoid when implementing automation, especially with new technologies:

1. Expecting a 'magic bullet': No system, even with AI, will solve your problems if you don't understand your business processes. Automation merely accelerates existing processes, both good and bad.
2. Lack of deep analysis: Before automating, you need to thoroughly study each stage of work. What data is needed, who enters it, how is it processed? Without this, you risk automating chaos.
3. Ignoring feedback: When developing or implementing a system, constantly gather feedback from those who will use it. If employees don't adopt the tool, it won't work.
4. Trying to automate everything at once: Start small. Choose one, most problematic area of work, automate it, perfect it, and then move on to the next. This helps avoid overload and allows you to see results faster.
5. Underestimating the learning curve: Any new tool requires time to master. Be prepared to invest in training yourself and your team, even if it seems intuitive.

How to Plan a Plot in formspace.design: A New Approach to Design

formspace.design is my answer to all the challenges I faced in the landscape business. It is a tool created by a practitioner for practitioners, designed to simplify and accelerate the process of designing plots using modern technologies, including AI.

Imagine you own a plot of 10-20 sotkas (1000-2000 sq meters) and want to plan it yourself. In formspace.design, you'll start with Module 1.x 'Planning Zones and Objects'. First, you upload your plot's cadastral plan or simply draw its outline. Then, using Module 1.1 'Zoning', you easily define the main functional zones: a residential area with a house and garage, a recreation area with a terrace, a sports or children's playground, a vegetable garden, or a decorative garden. Next, moving to Module 1.2 'Objects', you place specific elements: paths 1-1.5 meters wide for comfortable passage, flowerbeds, gazebos, trees, and shrubs, precisely linking them to the plan. This allows you to get a clear understanding of the scale and functionality of the future landscape even before earthworks begin.

If you're looking for inspiration, Module 2.1 'AI Concept' will come to your aid. You can set plot parameters – for example, specify that it has a slight slope of 2-3 degrees to the south, or that you prefer a modern minimalist style. The AI will suggest several layout options, considering insolation, wind rose, and your preferences. You can choose one of the suggested concepts as a basis and refine it manually, or use AI ideas to create your own unique design. For those who enjoy working with visual content, Module 3.1 'Design by Photo' allows you to upload a photo of your plot or any inspiring image, and the AI will generate design proposals directly based on this image, which can then be transferred to the plan for further detailing. This approach significantly reduces time spent searching for ideas and allows for a quick transition to practical implementation.

FAQ

I'm 60+, can I learn AI for development or planning?

Absolutely! My personal experience is proof: I started actively coding with AI at 61. The key is not age, but the desire to learn, discipline, and a clear understanding of what you want to create. AI significantly lowers the entry barrier, allowing you to focus on logic and ideas rather than memorizing syntax.

Will AI tools replace landscape designers?

No, AI tools will not replace but rather enhance and expand the capabilities of landscape designers. They will take on routine tasks, automate calculations, and offer numerous options, freeing up the designer for more creative work, deeper client communication, and considering unique local nuances that are currently only within human grasp.

How long does it take to develop a custom solution with AI?

Timelines vary greatly depending on the project's complexity and scale. For formspace.design, creating the core functionality took over a year of active work. However, with AI, a working prototype for a small task can be obtained in a few weeks or even days, allowing for quick hypothesis testing and iteration.

What is the most challenging aspect of transitioning to AI development?

The most challenging aspect is changing one's mindset. You need to learn to clearly formulate tasks for AI, verify and refine the generated code, and let go of perfectionism in the early stages. It's important to understand that AI is an assistant, not a magician, and the final result still requires your control and expertise.

Can formspace.design be used for very small plots (up to 6 sotkas)?

Yes, formspace.design is versatile and perfectly suited for plots of any size, including very small ones. For small areas, precision and ergonomics are especially crucial, and our tool allows you to utilize every square meter most efficiently, conveniently arranging objects and zones.

What data is needed to work with the AI module in formspace.design?

For optimal operation, the AI module requires basic plot data: its plan (cadastral or hand-drawn), dimensions, orientation to cardinal directions, existing structures, and significant objects. The more information you provide, the more accurate and relevant the AI's suggestions will be. Photos of the plot or examples of the desired style will also be very helpful.

What are the savings from using systems like formspace.design?

Using formspace.design can significantly reduce design time – by my estimates, up to 30-50% compared to manual methods or using complex professional software. Additionally, errors in material calculations and planning are minimized, leading to substantial project budget savings and improved client communication due to clarity and speed of making changes.

From Idea to Implementation with New Possibilities

My journey from setting complex technical specifications for programmers to creating formspace.design with AI reflects global changes in the world of technology. Today, anyone with deep domain expertise and a desire to create can become a developer of their own solution. Intuitive tools and the capabilities of artificial intelligence allow ideas to be brought to life faster, more efficiently, and with lower costs. If you've long dreamed of your ideal plot but feared the complexity of design, formspace.design offers you a new, accessible, and exciting path to realizing your dream. Try it yourself, and you'll see how easy planning can be with modern technologies.