I’ve run into my fair share of technical snags over the years, but there’s something particularly humbling about being stumped by a script that won’t show up on the homepage. This time, it was a simple countdown widget — a custom integration we added for a specific client. Or at least, it should’ve been simple.
Normally, I’d loop in a developer, ask them to poke around, open an Asana ticket, and wait for the back-and-forth to resolve. But this time, I tried something different.
I asked ChatGPT.
What followed wasn’t just a fix but a reminder that these tools aren’t just novelties. They’re assistants in the truest sense.
The Setup
We had implemented a lightweight script loader through our internal toolset and added a bit of HTML to trigger the display. Everything looked right. There were no console errors or broken code—just… nothing on the front end.
The Assist
So I started chatting.
I described the setup and behavior and included a few screenshots. ChatGPT didn’t just respond—it walked through the issue like a second set of eyes, checking script order, caching layers, placement logic, and browser conditions.
And here’s the thing: it wasn’t magic. It was methodical. It reminded me of how a good developer thinks — breaking the problem into layers, testing assumptions, and guiding the logic.
We narrowed it down to a caching issue. One incognito window later, and boom — the widget was there, just waiting to be seen.
Why This Matters
I still believe in the value of working with talented developers. But I also believe in momentum. Sometimes, being able to ask a question in plain language and get a clear, actionable answer—without waiting in a queue—makes the difference between spinning your wheels and shipping something small but essential. And when I can handle things like this on my own, it keeps our developers focused on the deeper, more complex work that really needs their attention.
This wasn’t just about a countdown. It was about recognizing how tools like ChatGPT can quietly extend what we’re capable of on our own.
I didn’t write code. I didn’t need to.
I just asked the right questions, and that was enough to move things forward.