🍳 How I Built My First Flask Demo App – A Recipe Generator

Last updated on: July 22, 2025

I started learning web development with Python, but I didn’t want to just follow long tutorial videos. So, I decided to build a small project and learn from tutorials alongside.
That’s how I ended up creating my first demo app: Recipe Generator (built with Flask).

💡 The Idea

I wanted users to enter a list of ingredients and get a recipe suggestion. The app sends the input to OpenAI via API and generates a dish based on the provided ingredients.

🚫 Why is the "Generate" button blocked?

Currently, users can’t generate new recipes, but they can still view the demo video.
I disabled the button to:

• Avoid API credit misuse
• Focus on design and Flask integration

🛠️ Tech Stack Used

To build this project, I used:

• 🧠 AI Model: OpenAI GPT (via openai Python library)
• 🖥️ Backend: Flask (Python)
• 🌐 Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• ☁️ Deployment Options: Render

🎯 What I Learned from This App

This project taught me a lot more than just syntax. Some key takeaways:

• How Flask handles routes, templates, and form submissions
• Basics of integrating third-party APIs (like OpenAI)
• Designing a responsive frontend that looks decent on both desktop and mobile
• Managing environment variables securely
• How to debug 500 Internal Server Errors 😅
• The importance of UI/UX even in small demo apps

This was my first project that felt "complete" — not just from a functionality perspective, but from a user experience perspective.

📺 Visit the App or Watch the Demo

Even though the generation button is disabled, you can still visit the app or watch the full working demo video below to understand how the app works:

• Watch the demo video on Google Drive
• Visit the live app (Generate button disabled)

🧁 Final Thought

This project reminded me that you don’t need to wait for full access to APIs or advanced knowledge to build something meaningful. Even a simulation can help you:

• Learn frameworks
• Practice design thinking
• Deliver real experiences

So if you’re starting out, don’t hesitate to build something, even if it’s not fully functional. Focus on the journey, not just the destination.