For Non-Programmers: From MVP to Scaled Solutions

Underdog Cowboy is a powerful tool that allows individuals without extensive programming experience to work with Language Models (LLMs) and create functional prototypes. This guide will walk you through the process of creating Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and collaborating with programmers to develop more complex, scaled solutions.

Getting Started with Underdog Cowboy

1. Installation

To begin, you'll need to install Underdog Cowboy. Open a terminal or command prompt and run:

pip install underdogcowboy

2. Launching the Timeline Editor

The Timeline Editor is your primary tool for creating and managing agents. Launch it by typing:

timelineeditor

Creating Your First Agent

1. In the Timeline Editor, start a conversation with an LLM.

2. Guide the conversation to define your agent's purpose and capabilities.

3. Once satisfied, save the conversation as an agent.

Example conversation:

You: I want to create an agent that helps users brainstorm business ideas.
LLM: Certainly! I can act as an agent to assist users in brainstorming business ideas. What specific aspects would you like me to focus on?
You: Focus on innovative tech startups. Ask users about their interests and skills, then suggest potential business ideas.
LLM: Understood. I'll be an agent that helps users brainstorm innovative tech startup ideas based on their interests and skills. Here's how I'll structure the interaction:

1. Greet the user and explain my purpose
2. Ask about their technical skills and interests
3. Inquire about any specific problems they're passionate about solving
4. Based on their responses, suggest 3-5 potential tech startup ideas
5. Offer to elaborate on any idea they find interesting

Does this approach sound good to you?
You: Yes, that's perfect. Let's save this as an agent named "TechStartupIdeaGenerator".

Using Your Agent

After creating your agent, you can use it in scripts or interact with it directly:

1. In your script you can type:

   from underdogcowboy import adm, TechStartupIdeaGenerator
   adm | [TechStartupIdeaGenerator]
   TechStartupIdeaGenerator >> "Hi, I'm interested in AI and sustainable energy."

2. The agent will respond based on its defined behavior.

Iterative Development

1. Use the agent and note any areas for improvement.

2. Return to the Timeline Editor to refine the agent's responses and behavior.

3. Save the updated agent and test again.

Collaborating with Programmers

As your MVP gains traction, you may want to expand its capabilities. Here's how to collaborate effectively with programmers:

1. Document Use Cases: Clearly describe how users interact with your agent and what outcomes they expect.

2. Identify Limitations: Note any limitations in your current MVP that require programming expertise to overcome.

3. Prioritize Features: Create a list of desired features or improvements, ranked by importance.

4. Share Agent Files: Provide the JSON files of your agents to the programmers. These files contain the core logic and behavior of your agents.

5. Explain the Vision: Clearly communicate your long-term vision for the project to help programmers understand the big picture.

Scaling Your Solution

Working with programmers, you can scale your solution in several ways:

1. Custom User Interfaces: Develop web or mobile interfaces for easier interaction with your agents.

2. Database Integration: Store and retrieve information to make your agents more knowledgeable and personalized.

3. API Connections: Connect your agents to external services for real-time data or additional function

4. Automated Testing: Implement testing systems to ensure your agents perform consistently as they evolve.

Best Practices for Non-Programmer Innovators

1. Start Simple: Begin with a clearly defined, narrow use case for your MVP.

2. Test Frequently: Regularly use your agents to understand their strengths and weaknesses.

3. Gather User Feedback: Collect and document feedback from early users to guide improvements.

4. Learn Basic Concepts: Familiarize yourself with basic programming and LLM concepts to communicate effectively with developers.

5. Stay Involved: Remain an active part of the development process, providing insights on user needs and agent behavior.

Conclusion

Underdog Cowboy empowers non-programmers to create functional LLM-based solutions quickly. By starting with an MVP and collaborating effectively with programmers, you can transform your initial concept into a sophisticated, scaled application. Remember, your domain knowledge and vision are crucial to the project's success, complementing the technical skills of your programming collaborators.