The Plugin
From “Simple Form” to Revolutionary Solution: How AI Helped Me Digitize Marine Fisheries in 72 Hours
What started as a casual conversation about a “simple form” became a three-day journey into AI-assisted development that transformed how trawler companies interact with government offices in Bangladesh.
The Hook That Changed Everything
Picture this: You’re sitting in a government office, wrapping up a routine security update meeting, when the Additional Director casually mentions, “Can you build us a simple form that generates a PDF?”
To him, it was straightforward. To me, someone with zero plugin development experience, it was the beginning of an adventure I never saw coming.
But here’s the thing – while he was still explaining the problem, my mind was already racing with solutions.
The Problem: A Daily Frustration
Every day, trawler companies across Bangladesh waste precious time traveling to the Marine Fisheries Office for sailing permission applications. It’s a repetitive process that involves:
- Multiple office visits
- Manual form filling
- Waiting for official processing
- Coming back for collection
The Additional Director painted a clear picture: “They fill up the form, click submit, and a PDF gets generated in the official format. Simple, right?”
Simple for him. Challenging for me. But when someone gives you a chance to shine and solve real problems, you don’t back down.
The Moment of Truth: Processing in Real-Time
As he explained their needs, something fascinating happened in my mind. I wasn’t just listening – I was already architecting the solution:
- Form structure analysis ✓
- PDF generation requirements ✓
- Database management ✓
- User interface considerations ✓
- Admin dashboard needs ✓
This is when I realized the power of having AI as a development partner. I knew exactly where to start.
The AI-Powered Development Journey
Step 1: Understanding the Format
My first move was feeding the official sailing permission format to Claude (Anthropic’s AI). I needed to:
- Analyze the document structure
- Identify required fields
- Understand the official formatting requirements
- Map out the form logic
Claude didn’t just analyze – it provided insights I hadn’t considered and suggested a basic form structure with a dashboard for file management.
Step 2: The Strategic Prompt Crafting
Instead of rushing straight to development, I took time to craft a detailed, comprehensive prompt. This wasn’t just about describing what I wanted – it was about communicating the entire ecosystem:
- Government compliance requirements
- User experience expectations
- Technical constraints
- Integration needs with existing WordPress infrastructure
Step 3: The Smart Intermediary Step
Here’s where strategy paid off. Instead of directly feeding my prompt to v0.dev (Vercel’s AI developer), I ran it through ChatGPT first. Why?
ChatGPT helped me:
- Architect the solution more systematically
- Clarify technical specifications
- Structure the requirements in a way v0 could better understand
- Identify potential edge cases I might have missed
This extra step transformed my somewhat chaotic idea into a crystal-clear development brief.
Step 4: The Marathon Development Session
What followed was intense:
- 3 different v0 accounts (because I hit usage limits)
- 40+ iterations of the solution
- 3 sleepless nights of pure coding addiction
But every iteration brought me closer to the perfect solution.
The Lunch Break That Fueled Innovation
During my site mapping session, time flew by so fast that it was suddenly 2 PM – lunch time. The office staff, being incredibly hospitable, invited me to join them.
But here’s the thing – I was so excited about the solution brewing in my mind that I couldn’t wait. Even before taking a bite, I had already fed the requirements to Claude and started working on the architecture.
That’s when you know you’re onto something special.
The Technical Challenge: Beyond “Simple”
While it appeared simple on the surface, the technical requirements were substantial:
Frontend Requirements:
- Intuitive form interface that government staff could easily use
- Real-time validation to prevent errors
- Mobile-responsive design for accessibility
- Progress indicators for better user experience
Backend Complexity:
- Database schema for storing applications
- File upload management with security considerations
- PDF generation engine matching official formats
- Admin dashboard for monitoring and management
- Integration with existing WordPress infrastructure
Compliance Considerations:
- Government formatting standards
- Data security protocols
- Audit trail requirements
- Access control mechanisms
The AI Collaboration Process
Working with AI wasn’t just about getting code – it was about having an intelligent development partner:
With Claude:
- File-specific analysis – I’d feed individual files for targeted improvements
- Problem-solving discussions – explaining challenges and getting architectural advice
- Code review and optimization – refining specific functions
With ChatGPT:
- Requirement clarification – turning ideas into technical specifications
- Architecture planning – structuring the overall solution approach
With v0.dev:
- Rapid prototyping – quickly generating functional components
- UI/UX iteration – refining the visual and interactive elements
The Result: More Than Expected
After 72 hours of intensive development, what emerged was far more than a “simple form”:
✅ Production-Ready WordPress Plugin
A fully functional plugin that integrates seamlessly with existing government infrastructure.
✅ Intelligent Form System
- Dynamic field validation
- Auto-save functionality
- Error prevention mechanisms
- User-friendly interface
✅ Automated PDF Generation
- Perfect replication of official formats
- Automated data population
- Professional document output
- Instant generation and download
✅ Comprehensive Admin Dashboard
- Application monitoring
- File management system
- User activity tracking
- System analytics
✅ Complete Workflow Digitization
What used to take multiple office visits now happens in minutes online.
The Bigger Picture: A Digital Transformation Journey
This sailing permission system represents more than just a single solution – it’s part of a larger digital transformation story:
2022: The Beginning
I first built the Marine Fisheries website. Honestly? It looked terrible. But it was a start.
2024 – Eid ul-Adha: The Revival
Complete website revamp. Modern design, better functionality, improved security.
2024 – Present: The Innovation
AI-powered sailing permission system, marking a new era of government service digitization.
Lessons Learned: The AI Development Paradigm
1. AI as a Development Partner, Not a Replacement
The key wasn’t just using AI tools – it was knowing how to collaborate with them effectively.
2. Strategic Prompt Engineering
Taking time to craft clear, comprehensive prompts paid dividends in output quality.
3. Multi-AI Approach
Different AI tools have different strengths. Using them strategically creates better results.
4. Iteration is King
40+ versions weren’t excessive – they were necessary for perfection.
5. Manual Refinement Still Matters
AI got me 80% there, but the final 20% required human insight and manual adjustment.
The Impact: Real People, Real Solutions
This isn’t just about technology – it’s about impact:
- Trawler companies save hours of travel time
- Government staff process applications more efficiently
- Fishing industry experiences reduced bureaucratic friction
- Digital transformation gets another success story
Looking Forward: The Digitization Vision
This sailing permission system is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Every digitized process brings us closer to:
- Efficient government services
- Reduced bureaucratic delays
- Better citizen experience
- Transparent, traceable processes
The Personal Satisfaction
There’s something incredibly fulfilling about solving real problems for people who gave you a chance to shine. The Marine Fisheries Office believed in my ability to deliver, and that trust became fuel for innovation.
Three sleepless nights weren’t a sacrifice – they were an investment in proving that with the right combination of human creativity and AI capabilities, we can transform how government services work.
Final Thoughts: The Future is Collaborative
This experience taught me that the future of development isn’t about humans versus AI – it’s about humans working with AI to solve problems that neither could tackle alone.
The Additional Director’s “simple form” request became a masterclass in:
- Problem-solving methodology
- AI-assisted development
- Government service innovation
- Persistent execution
What government process do you think needs this kind of digital transformation next?
Ready to digitize your processes? Let’s talk about how AI-powered solutions can transform your operations.
Tags: #DigitalTransformation #GovernmentTech #AIInnovation #WordPress #MarineFisheries #Bangladesh #TechForGood #ProblemSolving #AIAssistedDevelopment
