This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Nicholas-Amsler
Producer Perch: Building an Emotionally-Aware Productivity App with React, AI, and Real Life in Mind
By Nicholas Amsler — Combat Medic turned AI Engineer
Why I Built Producer Perch
In early 2025, I built something under the radar for my wife-an amazing Executive Producer- a Mother’s day surprise.
As a combat medic turned AI engineer, I watched her manage chaos with grace: juggling production timelines, emotional labor, and burnout. But she didn’t need another project board — she needed a digital workspace that supported her mind as much as her tasks.
So I built Producer Perch: a personal productivity suite that doesn’t just manage workload — it recognizes emotional context, helps regulate creative energy, and reminds the user to breathe.
Tech Stack Overview
This is a modern React SPA with some surprisingly deep integrations:
React 18+ — functional components, custom hooks
Tailwind CSS — themed interface with state-aware styles
Web Audio API — ambient sound + audio triggers- ChatGPT API — voice-to-text, emotional affirmations, journaling assistant
Custom State Engine — mode switching between Zen, Reset, and Output workflows
Key Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
 Zen Mode
|
Clears interface noise, loads ambient tracks, and slows the mind. |
 5PM Shutdown Reminder
|
Sends a spoken message to “log off” and rejoin the world. |
 Emotional AI Assistant
|
Uses GPT-4o to generate affirmations and reframe negative spirals. |
| Three Work Modes
|
Creative Output, Reflect/Reset, and Focus mode with different tools. |
 Daily Wrap Journal
|
Summarizes your day and helps plan tomorrow with intelligent prompts. |
Design Philosophy
Most productivity tools scream “do more.”
Producer Perch whispers “how are you doing?”
It’s not built for scale. It was built for someone I love. But in doing so, I stumbled on something bigger:
We can build software that cares.
Developer Notes
Some things I discovered along the way:
- Tailwind’s dark mode + focus ring hacks = a delight
- The Web Audio API has quirks — especially on Safari
- GPT emotional prompts require nuance to avoid generic affirmations
- State isolation across modes (Zen vs. Output) required careful context separation
Access Note (for Now)
Producer Perch is currently password-protected and undergoing private testing.
The GitHub repo is private and the app is not yet public-facing. This is intentional while I finalize authentication middleware and secure deployment.
Want to explore it?
DM me here or on LinkedIn and I’d be happy to walk you through it.
What’s Next?
I might open-source a minimal version or evolve it into a lightweight SaaS for creative professionals.
For now, it’s a portfolio piece — and a personal reminder that we can design tech with heart.
Final Thoughts
Most devs build dashboards. I built a digital desk for the person behind the projects.
And it turns out that’s exactly what she needed.
Built with love
Combat medic → AI engineer
Open to feedback — who else is building emotionally intelligent apps?
Tags
#react #productivity #emotionaldesign #webdev #ai #tailwindcss
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Nicholas-Amsler