Tips for Asking Forge (Better Results)
What to say so Forge “gets it”
Forge works best when you describe three things in plain language:
- What you’re trying to accomplish (your everyday goal)
- What information you’ll enter (the fields you want)
- What you want to see or happen (the result: lists, totals, reminders, statuses, etc.)
A simple template you can copy
Paste this into Forge and fill in the brackets:
I want an app for: [your goal].
What I want to enter each time:
- [field 1]
- [field 2]
- [field 3]
What I want the app to do/show:
- [what the main screen should look like]
- [any totals, statuses, or groupings]
- [what should happen when I tap Save/Done]
Nice-to-have:
- [optional extras]Examples you can use (and edit)
These examples are written the way a non-technical person would ask. Feel free to copy one and change the words to match your life.
Copy/paste into Forge:
I want an app that helps me shop for groceries without forgetting things.
What I want to enter:
- Item name
- Quantity (optional)
- Category (produce, dairy, pantry, frozen, other)
- Store (optional)
What I want the app to do/show:
- A shopping list grouped by category
- A way to check items off as I buy them
- A separate view for “Checked off” items
- A button to clear checked items after a trip
Nice-to-have:
- If I don’t pick a category, guess one based on the item name.Copy/paste into Forge:
I want an app to track a few habits each day.
What I want to enter:
- Habit name (drink water, stretch, read, etc.)
- Did I do it? (yes/no)
- Notes (optional)
What I want the app to do/show:
- A simple “Today” screen with my habit list and quick checkmarks
- A weekly view that shows how many days I completed each habit
- A streak indicator (optional) but keep it encouraging, not guilt-based
Nice-to-have:
- Let me add or remove habits anytime without breaking my history.Copy/paste into Forge:
I want an app to track my everyday spending so I can see monthly totals.
What I want to enter:
- Amount
- Category (food, transport, bills, fun, other)
- Payment method (cash/card)
- Date (default to today)
- Notes (optional)
What I want the app to do/show:
- A list of expenses with the newest at the top
- A monthly total and totals by category
- Filters for a specific month and category
Nice-to-have:
- A quick-add button for common expenses (like coffee).Copy/paste into Forge:
I want an app that helps me plan meals and decide what to cook.
What I want to enter:
- Meal name
- Type (breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack)
- Ingredients (a simple list)
- Prep time (quick/medium/long)
- Notes or link (optional)
What I want the app to do/show:
- A weekly plan where I can assign meals to days
- A “Tonight” view that suggests a few meals based on prep time
- A generated ingredient list for the week (simple is fine)
Nice-to-have:
- A favorites section for meals I repeat often.Copy/paste into Forge:
I want an app to track home and car maintenance so nothing gets missed.
What I want to enter:
- Task (change air filter, oil change, check smoke detector)
- Item (house, car, appliance name)
- Frequency (every X months or miles)
- Last done date
- Notes (optional)
What I want the app to do/show:
- A list of tasks with a clear “Due soon / Overdue / OK” status
- A place to mark a task as done that updates the next due date
- A view that shows what’s due this month
Nice-to-have:
- Let me attach a photo of a receipt (optional).Copy/paste into Forge:
I want an app that helps me pack for trips without forgetting essentials.
What I want to enter:
- Trip name
- Trip dates
- Items to pack
- Category (clothes, toiletries, tech, documents, other)
What I want the app to do/show:
- A checklist grouped by category
- A way to save a “base list” (my usual items) and reuse it for new trips
- A separate section for trip-specific items
Nice-to-have:
- A “Last minute” category for things I can’t pack early.Small details that make a big difference
- Say who it’s for: “Just me,” “my household,” “me and my partner.”
- Say how often you’ll use it: daily, weekly, only on trips, etc.
- Name your categories if you already know them (it prevents guessing).
- Describe your ideal main screen: “a simple checklist,” “a calendar-style week,” “a list with totals at the top.”
- Call out what you don’t want: “Keep it very simple,” “No long forms,” “Don’t show charts.”
Good vs. better requests (same idea, clearer results)
I need an app to track my workouts.This leaves Forge guessing what you mean by “track.”
I want an app to track my workouts so I can see progress.
What I want to enter each workout:
- Workout type (run, strength, yoga)
- Duration (minutes)
- Intensity (easy/medium/hard)
- Notes (optional)
What I want the app to show:
- A history list (newest first)
- Weekly totals for duration
- A simple progress view by workout typeThis tells Forge your inputs and your desired results.