I Built an App. No, Really.
App screenshot highlighting the main areas of Fee Data, Set Asides, Project Hourly Rate, and Phase Allocations.
How Perplexity Computer gave a small-firm architect a custom tool — without writing a single line of code.
I am not a programmer. I have built no-code apps a few times. It helps to like computers and new technology. So when I tell you I built a working web app, I want you to understand that there is precedence; but nothing that most of you couldn’t do if you were so inclined and had the time.
The app is called DSGNBDGT — my shorthand for design budget — and it is a simple tool that helps small-firm architects determine how much time is available in the fee for each phase of a project. Nothing exotic. But it is exactly what most of us need, and until now I had cobbled something together in a spreadsheet.
What I created with Perplexity Computer is far superior. And much better looking.
What Is Perplexity Computer, Exactly?
If you use Perplexity for research — and if you don't, you should — you already know it as one of the best AI-powered answer tools available. Perplexity Computer is something different. It is an autonomous AI agent — a "digital worker" — that can take a plain-language description of what you want to accomplish and actually go build it.
The technical magic underneath is that Computer orchestrates 19+ different AI models simultaneously, routing each piece of a task to whichever model handles it best. Claude Opus handles the complex reasoning. Gemini digs into research tasks. Grok picks up the lighter work. You don't configure any of that. You just describe the outcome you want, and Computer figures out how to get there.
It launched in late February 2026 and is currently available as part of the Perplexity Pro plan, which is just $20/month. I think the economics make sense for any firm.
The Problem I Was Trying to Solve
If you read my post on timekeeping, you know my argument: 80% of a small firm's costs are tied to time. Design budgets — the allocation of hours by phase — are the mechanism that turns your fee into a manageable plan. If you are not tracking your hours in something close to real time, you are flying blind.
My CODA-based Timekeeping App handles the time entry piece well. What I wanted was something purpose-built for the budget side: enter the project, allocate the fee to phases, determine a likely project hourly charge rate, and immediately get the design budget in dollars and hours to enter in Timekeeping. Another use case is to try out different fees when making a proposal to see if the hours seem realistic.
A spreadsheet can do this. But a spreadsheet requires manual setup for every project, it doesn't update itself, and sharing it with anyone is a hassle. I wanted something that felt like a real app — not a workaround.
That is what DSGNBDGT became.
How the Build Actually Worked
Screenshot of Perplexity Computer during the app building process.
Here is the actual version of what happened.
I started with plain Perplexity, created a Space, entered background information describing what I wanted to do, and asked Perplexity what kind of information needs to be included when prompting Perplexity Computer to build an app.
I took that feedback and took a run at describing the prompt for building the app I planned to call DSGNBDGT.
Next I took my prompt and, rather than get to work with Perplexity Computer, I uploaded my prompt and asked Perplexity how my prompt could be improved.
BTW these requests of Perplexity were all done in ‘reasoning’ mode, not simple searches.
I got back a short critique and a very long description of how to do it better.
I asked questions about things I didn’t understand, about the pros and cons of several options.
Finally I asked Perplexity to write the prompt for Perplexity Computer for me.
Perplexity recommended the prompt be submitted in three phases to keep things both simple enough that corrections would be easy.
I exported the three part prompt so I could edit it. I went over the prompt as carefully as I could and found a couple of assumptions that I didn’t like, and changed them. (I could have asked Perplexity to revise the prompts, but the issues were minor.
Finally I opened Perplexity Computer and copied the first prompt in an hit enter.
Perplexity Computer broke that description into tasks automatically. Sub-agents spun up and started working in parallel. Within a few minutes, it had generated a working prototype — a web application with a project list, a phase budget entry screen, a time log, and a running tally of remaining hours per phase.
Was it perfect out of the box? No. The first version had some quirks. The phase categories didn't match standard architectural phases. The display was a little clunky. But here is where the iterative nature of the tool shines: I described what I wanted to change, in plain English, and Computer revised it. No code editor. No syntax errors.
The process felt more like directing a very capable contractor than writing software. You describe the outcome. You review the result. You give feedback. You iterate. Architects already know how to do this.
What DSGNBDGT Actually Does
Note the error feedback when allocating the fee among phases.
The finished app — DSGNBDGT — does seven things:
Project setup: Enter the project name, total fee, and a date.
Project set-asides: Enter the profit, consultants, etc. either as percentages or fixed dollar budgets.
Phase allocation: Distribute the fee across standard phases (Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Bidding, Construction Administration), either as percentages or fixed dollar budgets. Or create your own phases.
Build a Project Hourly Rate: Enter staff members, their charge rate, and what percentage their involvement will be.
Budget dashboard: See immediately where everything stands: hours budgeted, dollars allocated, for each phase.
Alert flags: You are alerted if things don’t add up.
Document it: Get a PDF for the project file.
Nothing in that list will surprise you. You probably already know you need this information. The point is that now there is a tool that delivers it — one that I built without knowing how to code, on a platform designed for generalist professionals, not developers.
What This Means for Small-Firm Architects
I have written before about the risk of being the last firm to get on the bus with new technology. This feels like one of those moments.
The ability to build custom software tools — even simple ones — has historically required either a development budget or a technical co-founder. Neither of those is a realistic option for most small firms. So we adapt. We use spreadsheets when we should have databases. We use generic project management software that was built for software companies, not architecture firms. We duct-tape workflows together and hope they hold.
Perplexity Computer changes the math on this. Not for complex enterprise software — there are real limitations with the platform when it comes to deeply technical builds. But for the kind of focused, purpose-built tools that a small firm actually needs? The bar has dropped significantly.
The key insight is that describing a tool and building a tool are now the same act. If you can explain to a colleague what you need a system to do, you can probably build a working version of it with Perplexity Computer.
Honest Caveats
I want to be upfront about the limitations.
The time. I spent about 10 hours building this app over a week or so. Only two hours of that was spent using Perplexity or Perplexity Computer. It helped that I already knew how to do a design budget. Just like in designing a building, your time is spent mostly on deciding what to do.
The iteration required. The first version of anything Computer builds will need refinement. Plan for two to four rounds of feedback before a tool behaves exactly the way you want. This is not dramatically different from working with a human contractor, but you should not expect a perfect result from a single prompt.
The connectors are still maturing. Third-party integrations — things like connecting your app to external data sources or syncing with other software — work inconsistently right now. For a standalone tool like DSGNBDGT, this wasn't a problem. If you need deeper integrations, proceed carefully.
Should You Try This?
If you have a manual process in your firm that a simple app could automate — a checklist tool, a fee calculator, a project status dashboard — yes. I think this is worth exploring.
Or maybe you have an idea for a client tool embedded in your website — a project cost or scheduling calculator, a programming template, a checklist of objectives — that could be done, too.
The small-firm architect has always had to be resourceful. We often compete against larger firms. Tools like Perplexity Computer are starting to level that playing field in ways that are meaningful.
DSGNBDGT is available here — a simple browser app for $25, no subscription, and, if you have a Perplexity Pro account, customize it further for your own firm.
Don't be the last firm on the bus.
References
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A Better Timekeeping App - Timekeeping is the most valuable management information for Architects.
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I Built an App in ONE DAY With Zero Coding Experience - I built a working app in one afternoon with zero coding experience — here's how Perplexity Computer ...
