Developer Log: Building My Ultimate Audio-to-Blog Pipeline
Hey there, fellow code enthusiasts and curious minds! It’s time for another entry in my developer log. Today, I want to share an exciting project I’ve been working on that’s revolutionized my workflow and opened up some mind-blowing possibilities. Grab a coffee (or your beverage of choice) and settle in, because we’re about to dive deep into the world of AI-powered audio processing and content creation!
The Genesis: Streamlining My “Today I Learned” Process
So, picture this: I’m constantly coming up with ideas, learning new things, and wanting to share them with the world. But let’s be real - who has the time to sit down and meticulously type out every fleeting thought? Not this guy, that’s for sure. That’s where my latest creation comes in: a tool I affectionately call “Rubber Ducky.”
The name might make you chuckle, but trust me, this little duck packs a punch. Its primary purpose? To help me effortlessly capture and process my “Today I Learned” (TIL) moments for my website, tilLinkonics. And boy, has it evolved into something spectacular!
The Rubber Ducky Pipeline: From Thoughts to Published Post
Let me break down the magic for you:
-
**Audio Recording**: First, Rubber Ducky records my ramblings for a set amount of time. In this case, I had it set for a luxurious 5-minute brain dump.
-
**Transcription with AssemblyAI**: Once the recording is done, it’s whisked away to the cloud fairies at AssemblyAI. These wonderful AI elves transform my spoken words into written text faster than you can say “natural language processing.”
-
**Jekyll-Ready Formatting**: Here’s where it gets really cool. The transcribed text is automatically formatted with all the necessary Jekyll front matter and headers. It’s like having a tiny, invisible web developer working tirelessly behind the scenes.
- **Text-to-Speech Options**: Because why not add more AI to the mix? I’ve got two flavors here:
- Good ol’ eSpeak for that classic, slightly robotic charm
- The scarily realistic voices from ElevenLabs (more on that later)
- **AI-Powered Rewriting with Claude**: As if that wasn’t enough, I’ve integrated Claude (via the Anthropic API) to take the transcript and rewrite it in any style I fancy. Scientific paper? Pirate shanty? The possibilities are endless!
The Unexpected Joys (and Mild Existential Crises)
Now, I have to admit, when I first heard the ElevenLabs AI voice reading back my own thoughts, it was a bit of a “whoa” moment. It’s simultaneously thrilling and slightly terrifying how realistic these synthesized voices have become. I mean, are we living in the future or what?
But here’s the thing - instead of spiraling into an AI-induced panic, I’ve chosen to embrace the possibilities. This tool isn’t replacing my creativity; it’s amplifying it. It’s taking care of the tedious parts so I can focus on what really matters: learning, sharing, and connecting with all of you wonderful humans out there in internet land.
A Renaissance Coder’s Dream
You know, someone once called me a “renaissance man,” and I’ve got to say, I kind of dig it. I’m all about that lifelong learning life - whether it’s programming, philosophy, automotive tinkering, or any other rabbit hole I happen to fall down. This tool? It’s like having a personal assistant for my brain, helping me capture and share all these diverse interests.
And let’s be real - in a world where venture capitalists are constantly trying to monetize every aspect of our digital lives, it feels pretty darn good to build something for the pure joy of learning and sharing. No sneaky data collection, no premium tier - just good old-fashioned knowledge exchange.
Looking to the Future
As I wrap up this post (which, ironically, I’m typing out the old-fashioned way), I can’t help but feel excited about where this project might lead. Could it help other developers streamline their workflows? Might it make knowledge sharing more accessible for folks who prefer speaking to writing? The possibilities are as endless