First App Sprint prep hub

Come ready to build, not hunt for passwords.

A short checklist for students and parents before First App Sprint. Do this once and class gets a lot more fun.

Apply first Review vocabulary

Checklist

Do these before day one.

Parents should help with accounts. Students should help with the app idea.

  1. 01Bring a laptop and charger.Make sure it can browse the web, save files, and stay charged for two hours.
  2. 02Confirm AI access.Codex is preferred. Claude or another AI coding tool is acceptable if it can help write simple HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  3. 03Know the login plan.The student or parent must be able to log in. Do not give Bud or Titus private passwords.
  4. 04Pick three possible app ideas.They can be messy. We will shrink one in class.
  5. 05Read the safety rules.No private addresses, phone numbers, school passwords, payment tools, or public chat apps.

Best first apps

Choose a lane.

  • Randomizer
  • Quiz
  • Tracker
  • Calculator
  • Decision helper
  • Tiny game

Avoid for now

Save these for later.

  • User accounts
  • Payments
  • Public comments
  • Private data
  • Social networks
  • Multiplayer games

Student mindset

How to win.

  • Make it work first.
  • Ask for one change.
  • Test after every change.
  • Bugs are information.
  • Small apps ship.

Vocabulary

Words we will use in class.

You do not need to memorize these. Just read them once so class feels less weird.

App brief

A short description of the app: user, problem, screen, button, and result.

Prototype

The first working version. It is allowed to be plain.

Prompt

The instructions you give AI so it knows what to build or change.

HTML

The structure of the page: headings, buttons, inputs, and sections.

CSS

The style: colors, spacing, fonts, layout, and responsive behavior.

JavaScript

The behavior: what happens when someone clicks, types, adds, resets, or scores.

Debug

Finding what broke and choosing the smallest next fix.

Local app

An app that runs on the student laptop and does not need accounts or a database.

Demo

A short explanation of what the app does and what the student would improve next.

Tiny assignment

Bring three app ideas.

Write them in a note before class. They do not have to be good yet.

Use this format

  1. One app that would help me.
  2. One app that would help my family.
  3. One app that would be fun to show a friend.

Example: "A soccer drill randomizer," "a reading tracker," or "a quiz about my favorite book."