Can the new AI integration with component builder really build a complete component?

Meeting summary

Could we use Soren Jensens new AI to build a component quicker using component creator?  We opted to build a quick invoicing component that everyone could use.  

Quick recap

The team explored Component Creator, an AI tool for building database components, and demonstrated its capabilities for creating an invoicing system with various features. They worked through technical challenges related to language strings, installation issues, and database configuration while discussing improvements to the component's functionality and user interface. The session concluded with a demonstration of building a basic invoicing component using Component Creator, highlighting its value as a starting point for extension development despite requiring additional customization for full functionality.

Next steps

• Eoin: Upload the current meeting video to YouTube
• Eoin: Post the component share code in the Mattermost channel so others can download and use the invoicing component
• Eoin: Email everyone who registered the meeting link to ensure they can join
• Mary: Consider using the shared component code to build her own invoicing system to replace her non-functional invoice component

Summary

AI-Driven Component Creator Demo

Eoin introduced a code-along session using Component Creator, an AI-assisted tool for building database components, and explained that Soren Jensen had agreed to add AI capabilities to the free plan. Eoin demonstrated how the AI can generate a component for managing freelancer quotes and job postings, including features like public/private visibility, quote expiry dates, and payment terms. Mary expressed interest in learning about programming and AI through this session, while Adam joined later after technical difficulties with the Zoom link.

AI Tool for Invoice Creator

The group discussed building a new component to help Mary with her invoice creator issues. They decided to use Component Creator's AI tool to generate a prompt for an invoicing system. Adam suggested using ChatGPT to create the initial design. The group agreed to focus on a client management system that would allow developers to store website information and login details for their clients. They also discussed the possibility of creating a to-do list component as a simpler project for beginners.

German Invoice AI Component Development

Adam and Eoin discussed creating a German 5 invoice component using AI, focusing on common features like recurring invoices and payment reminders. They explored the capabilities of the Component Creator tool, noting that it only generates tables and fields, requiring manual creation of views. The team planned to use the AI-generated specifications as a starting point, potentially combining them with previous learnings and using Cloud Code to build views. They aimed to achieve one working view in the session, with the possibility of adding more advanced features in subsequent sessions.

Invoicing Component Development Discussion

Eoin and Adam discussed building an invoicing component using Component Creator, focusing on naming conventions and generating prompts using Claude Code. They reviewed the automatically generated database schema, agreeing on changes such as using a dropdown for frequency and a select list for status, and decided to create a separate table for statuses. They also considered adding configurations like currency and API keys for integration with Xero or QuickBooks, though they noted running out of time for further development.

Invoice Status System Implementation

The team discussed implementing a status system for invoices and payments, deciding to create a single status table with a type field to distinguish between invoice and payment statuses. They agreed to use a dropdown menu for status selection rather than a text field, and determined that the status table should be regular rather than nested. The team also decided to add a unique constraint to the status field to prevent duplicate entries.

Joomla Invoicing Component Development

The team discussed building an invoicing component, focusing on database configuration and table organization. They added a status field with a WHERE clause for foreign keys and debated whether to include the type field in the list view. Adam suggested installing the component in Joomla 5 first to identify any issues before moving to Joomla 6. Eoin attempted to install the component through SSH, encountering some technical difficulties but eventually succeeding.

Invoice Module Installation Challenges

The team discussed issues with language string generation and file formatting in their invoice module installation. Terry identified that line wrapping in the INI files was causing installation errors, and advised removing unnecessary lines to resolve the issue. After making these changes and reinstalling the module, they were able to create menu items and views, but encountered new problems with missing fields in the frontend interface. The team agreed to continue working on resolving these technical issues while also planning to add currency options and frontend editing capabilities to the module.

Joomla Invoice System Improvements

The team discussed issues with invoice views and database tables in Joomla. Adam explained that Eoin should focus on converting recurring invoices to a front-end view instead of creating custom views. They identified the need for additional tables for line items and client information. Adam suggested creating a client table to allow users to view their own invoices and manage multiple users within the same company. The team agreed to improve the table naming convention and discussed the potential for self-registration through Joomla. Mary expressed interest in the technical discussion while noting that the current system was not yet usable for their needs.

Joomla Client Information Setup

The team discussed custom fields in Joomla and decided to remove an unnecessary invoicing custom fields table. They worked on setting up client information, including linking to Joomla users and adding fields for client name, company name, address, and tax ID. Adam suggested making the client name field required and displaying it in the list view. They also discussed the possibility of using a tool like Claud Code to automatically create missing language files. The team agreed that while there are some limitations, the current setup is a better starting point than writing code from scratch or duplicating another component.

Joomla Language String Conversion Issues

The team discussed issues with language strings and component installation in Joomla. Eoin and Terry examined an INI file, discovering that the component was not completing its language string conversion process. Adam suggested copying files from the sys folder to resolve the issue. Mary asked about previous language string problems, and Adam recommended testing the component with another installation to determine if the issue was with the component or the installation. The team identified that the problem likely stemmed from incomplete language string conversion, possibly due to overly long descriptions or incorrect file handling.

Component Creator Invoicing Demo

The team demonstrated building a basic invoicing component using Component Creator, achieving approximately 50% of the desired functionality in a few hours. They discussed that while the tool is useful for quickly creating components, further customization and advanced features like PDF generation and email sending would require additional development. Terry shared his experience using Component Creator 6-7 years ago and how he eventually replaced much of the generated code with his own improvements, while Adam emphasized that the tool provides a good starting point for learning extension development without requiring deep coding knowledge.