Ravi S. Iyer: Software Development

In relation to my previous post:  Quick look at Claude Code-generated Bhagavad Gita React Native and Expo app (no coding by author) , I had some ChatGPT exchanges which I felt are detailed exchanges and are more appropriate to share as a separate post, and so this post. Given below are extracts from a recent ChatGPT chat titled, AI app testing issues. Testing of an AI generated app # Me: For a React and Node app, Jest testing seems to be referred to as 'snapshot testing'. I am used to the 'unit testing' term. Pls. explain snapshot testing in context of perhaps older term of unit testing. CG: You are right to anchor your understanding in unit testing . Snapshot testing is not a replacement for unit testing ; it is a specific technique that became popular with React (and Jest) because of how UIs are rendered. Let’s relate the two using familiar testing concepts. 1. What “unit testing” traditionally means In classic unit testing (pre-React, or backend-heavy): You t...

Last updated on 9 Feb. 2026 Recently a Bhagavad Gita AI generated iOS app with no coding required from app creator was covered in Indian news media outlets. Yesterday, 7 Feb. 2026, I had a look at one such media article which led to me cloning the app's GitHub repo and run the app on dev server for web and Android. ‘I built a Bhagavad Gita App for $319 in 4 days (no coding required)’, https://www.financialexpress.com/business/news/bhagavad-gita-app-built-with-ai-prompts-for-319zoho-founder-sridhar-vembu-says-coders-should-consider-other-livelihoods/4133291/ , Updated 6 Feb. 2026 It linked to the X post on the iOS app:  https://x.com/AnishA_Moonka/status/2019321410699817458 , Feb 5, 2026. The post said: Author only described what he wanted in plain English to Claude Code Claude Code 'wrote everything' (developed the app). Codex reviewed the app. $200 Claude Max subscription $20 ChatGPT Pro subscription $99 Apple Developer fee App is called 10minutegita I don't have an i...

Last updated on 7 Feb 2026 Summary Preact is a lightweight, React-compatible UI library  that implements the React API with a much smaller runtime. React ≈ feature-rich, heavy Preact ≈ minimal, fast, React-shaped Astro + Preact architecture  Astro itself is  not a SPA framework . Astro renders  HTML at build time Interactive UI pieces are  islands Each island can be: Preact, React, Vue, Svelte, Solid, etc. Preact is often the  best default choice  when: You want React-like syntax You want minimal client JS Why Preact matters  specifically  in Astro Astro’s core philosophy is: Ship zero JavaScript by default. Hydrate only where needed. Preact fits this philosophy extremely well because: Tiny runtime (~3–4 KB gzipped) Fast hydration Same mental model as React Excellent for  islands architecture Astro uses Preact as: A  first-class UI framework A  lighter alternative to React  for interactive components Preact vs React  ...