Anyone have ANY tips or tricks on getting the AI component to actually write a JSON value to the column im specifying? The AI component that I built allows the user to select various items from drop-down menus. It then converts the whole of those values into a stringified JSON object. I can get the component to even display the JSON object, but can’t get it to either automatically or through some sort of save button write that string object into the glide column that I am specifying. So frustrating.
I assume you have all the data items set up to point to your columns, right?
In summary, what have you tried with the prompting so far? Might be worth asking it to save the json to a variable, and then ask it to write the variable to the bound column.
I only have one column. All the drop downs are internal to the component. It successfully (internally) creates the json object that I want. In the data section of the component, I’ve only added one column—the one I want the json to write to.
I’ve tried every prompt under the sun it seems. Used a variety of action words (bind, map, write, overwrite, set, etc).
I’ve tried asking it to make sure it’s writing stringified json to mitigate issues with it writing the wrong value type to the text column.
I’ve asked it to write at different times (whenever the json object is modified, whenever a save button is pressed, on a 5 second timer).
It’s as though the component doesn’t know the column I’m trying to bind the json to exists or something.
I haven’t tried the variable thing—will def try that. But wondering if there was some secret to getting the component to recognize the column beyond just adding it and saying that that’s the target column (and actually, I haven’t used that vocab yet – target)
Most AI components I create store data in a single json object. Easier to maintain and modify later without having to add or remove columns from the data section.
I tend to use the word ‘bound’ a lot in my prompts to specify that I want to work with the bound column. I’m pretty sure I’ve also used the variable trick in the past…moreso to get around debounce issues because of the I/O back and forth interfering with text entry. Data can sit in the variable until a button or timer syncs it with the bound column.
I’ll also prompt it to show debug info whenever I need insight into variables it’s using behind the scenes.
I guess the only big issues I’ve had are running past the context window and having the code chopped off before the AI can finish it’s response.
Only other suggestion I have is to not be overly specific with your prompts. I tend to get better results when I’m intentionally vague, which forces the AI to figure it out itself instead of me trying to lay out specific instructions. If it doesn’t work, I’m brutally honest with it, saying it doesn’t work, until it gets it right.
Thanks… I’ll just keep being persistent. Is there an initial prompt you use to set up the component so that it knows to bind the json to a column from the get go?
I feel like I always have to try to convince the component that that’s what it’s supposed to do.
Just a lot of trial and error. I don’t know…seems like it’s easier when it creates the data fields on the very first prompt instead of trying to add them later. Just swear at it. Good way to de-stress.
Might be worth inspecting and copying the code into chatgpt or Claude and asking it why it’s not working. Get it worked out there, and then you can go back to glide with code snippets or specific variables and instructions for what to change.
Yeah, this is what I’ve been doing. Finally found success in telling Gemini to give me an option of “Burning It Down & Restarting” — a prompt
that lets me create a clean version built correctly from the ground up.
Finally got it to work. FWIW Here’s what it included:
Build a high-reliability Shift Scheduler for Glide using Tailwind CSS and Alpine.js.
- Data Bridge (Shell API):
Define a schema with ID: shiftSchedule (string).
The component must parse this.shiftSchedule on init and use a deep $watch to stringify the array back to this.shiftSchedule whenever a change occurs.- Robust Rehydration (The “Memory” Fix):
Use a hardcoded array of 30-minute intervals for time options.
To prevent dropdowns from resetting on reload, use this.$nextTick during the init phase to load saved data only AFTER the DOM is ready.
Ensure the ‘Close Time’ dropdown remains populated with the saved value even during the initial filtering phase.- UI & Features:
Layout: Each shift is a clean card with a border and subtle shadow.
Fields: ‘Open Time’ and ‘Close Time’ dropdowns.
Validation: ‘Close Time’ must be after ‘Open Time’. Show a small red error message if invalid.
Actions: A red ‘Remove’ button for each shift and a prominent ‘+ Add Shift’ button at the bottom.
Style: Use Inter font and the --color-accent variable for the primary button.
Added some extra goodies like layout and drag and drop. Here’s the end result:
Wow that’s really cool… I’m inspired to design an AI component that allows a user to drag and drop players from a team list into their assigned playing positions (think 442 for football), with options to switch formations. That would be fun.
Nice! When I coached, I played a 4 2 3 1 — would have loved to have an app that let me quickly assign players to that formation.
Why explicitly call out Tailwind and Alpine?
Also, Nice use case/execution BTW!
Alpine is the engine behind the custom component.
Tailwind is a good CSS framework to build custom user interfaces.
Thank you. The more I can build without creating static helper tables the better!
Ok I made it! See new topic added