Lemma owner Quinten Steenhuis recently wrote about a project to make it easier to edit Docassemble interviews in a guided, graphical process, without the tradeoffs of tools like Gavel, AfterPattern, ClioDraft, and similar tools.
Highlights:
In this post, Quinten introduces the next generation of Weaver — a new visual editor for Docassemble that blends no-code ease with the full flexibility of code. Building on Jonathan Pyle’s decade-old Docassemble platform, the tool aims to make complex legal document automation more accessible without sacrificing power. The tool will remain free and open-source, providing a solution for anyone who wants to be able to maintain custom development without hiring a developer for small changes.
Quinten explains how AI helped prototype and code the new Weaver through an approach he calls “vibe coding,” using a mix of ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, and Codex. He reflects candidly on the pros and cons of AI-assisted development — faster iteration, easier UI work, but also bloated code and maintenance challenges.
The post offers a glimpse into how AI is reshaping both the experience of building with Docassemble and the craft of programming itself. The author promises continued updates as the project evolves.