I Tried to Recreate a Magical Firefly Forest | Build in public E179

All right. Uh, I’m excited to launch a All right. Uh, I’m excited to launch a All right. Uh, I’m excited to launch a new project today. Uh, I’ll be going new project today. Uh, I’ll be going new project today. Uh, I’ll be going over what I built, how I built it. It’s over what I built, how I built it. It’s over what I built, how I built it. It’s kind of interesting because, um, I was kind of interesting because, um, I was kind of interesting because, um, I was able to quickly able to quickly able to quickly build this because of the new Gemini build this because of the new Gemini build this because of the new Gemini model. So, I did use AI to build this model. So, I did use AI to build this model. So, I did use AI to build this and it like wasn’t possible before this and it like wasn’t possible before this and it like wasn’t possible before this model dropped. So, let’s get into it. model dropped. So, let’s get into it. model dropped. So, let’s get into it. Um, first, my random story for today, Um, first, my random story for today, Um, first, my random story for today, which is literally going to tie right which is literally going to tie right which is literally going to tie right into what I built and why. So, kind of a into what I built and why. So, kind of a into what I built and why. So, kind of a two for one here. I two for one here. I two for one here. I grew up in kind of like a suburban zoo. grew up in kind of like a suburban zoo. grew up in kind of like a suburban zoo. Um, we grew up in the suburbs in central Um, we grew up in the suburbs in central Um, we grew up in the suburbs in central California California California and normal average middle class house, and normal average middle class house, and normal average middle class house, like a two-story house. you know, we had like a two-story house. you know, we had like a two-story house. you know, we had the pool because, you know, from the pool because, you know, from the pool because, you know, from California, it’s very hot there. Uh, but California, it’s very hot there. Uh, but California, it’s very hot there. Uh, but we had every animal imaginable. I mean, we had every animal imaginable. I mean, we had every animal imaginable. I mean, really, we had um really, we had um really, we had um probably my family over my life has had probably my family over my life has had probably my family over my life has had like 30 dogs. I mean, lot of dogs, cats, like 30 dogs. I mean, lot of dogs, cats, like 30 dogs. I mean, lot of dogs, cats, birds, uh, rats. One time we had a pig. birds, uh, rats. One time we had a pig. birds, uh, rats. One time we had a pig. We had when I was a kid, we had a We had when I was a kid, we had a We had when I was a kid, we had a literal pig. We would walk it on the literal pig. We would walk it on the literal pig. We would walk it on the leash. Um, when I was a kid, we had a leash. Um, when I was a kid, we had a leash. Um, when I was a kid, we had a big parrot like a, you know, macau. big parrot like a, you know, macau. big parrot like a, you know, macau. They’re like the red classic, you know, They’re like the red classic, you know, They’re like the red classic, you know, the the pirate kind of parrot. Um, the the pirate kind of parrot. Um, the the pirate kind of parrot. Um, birds. We had uh lots of fish, turtles. birds. We had uh lots of fish, turtles. birds. We had uh lots of fish, turtles. I I have found multiple turtles in my I I have found multiple turtles in my I I have found multiple turtles in my life just walking down the street and I life just walking down the street and I life just walking down the street and I picked it up. Uh, a few times I It’s so picked it up. Uh, a few times I It’s so picked it up. Uh, a few times I It’s so weird that’s happened to me so many weird that’s happened to me so many weird that’s happened to me so many times actually. Uh, my family jokes times actually. Uh, my family jokes times actually. Uh, my family jokes about that a lot. They’re like, “Why do about that a lot. They’re like, “Why do about that a lot. They’re like, “Why do you always find turtles?” I don’t know. you always find turtles?” I don’t know. you always find turtles?” I don’t know. Uh, to tortoises. We had um guinea pigs Uh, to tortoises. We had um guinea pigs Uh, to tortoises. We had um guinea pigs of of fish, saltwater aquarium, like of of fish, saltwater aquarium, like of of fish, saltwater aquarium, like everything everything you can think of. everything everything you can think of. everything everything you can think of. We probably had um tarantula. One time I We probably had um tarantula. One time I We probably had um tarantula. One time I had a tarantula that escaped and had a tarantula that escaped and had a tarantula that escaped and traumatized my sister at one point, traumatized my sister at one point, traumatized my sister at one point, scorpions, like weird stuff. So we we scorpions, like weird stuff. So we we scorpions, like weird stuff. So we we we’re a family obsessed with animals and we’re a family obsessed with animals and we’re a family obsessed with animals and that just kind of fueled that just kind of fueled that just kind of fueled my desire to travel because a because my desire to travel because a because my desire to travel because a because one thing that I did in all of my one thing that I did in all of my one thing that I did in all of my travels, I explicitly went out of my way travels, I explicitly went out of my way travels, I explicitly went out of my way to go see wild animals up close, to go see wild animals up close, to go see wild animals up close, sometimes too close, sometimes sometimes too close, sometimes sometimes too close, sometimes frighteningly close. And I never like frighteningly close. And I never like frighteningly close. And I never like really was super super into bugs until I really was super super into bugs until I really was super super into bugs until I until I visited Mexico. One time I went until I visited Mexico. One time I went until I visited Mexico. One time I went to the middle of nowhere, to the middle of nowhere, to the middle of nowhere, Mexico into the forest to go see the Mexico into the forest to go see the Mexico into the forest to go see the fireflies. So I had seen fireflies a bit fireflies. So I had seen fireflies a bit fireflies. So I had seen fireflies a bit um like in Tennessee, that area. I had um like in Tennessee, that area. I had um like in Tennessee, that area. I had seen them before I I went there, but not seen them before I I went there, but not seen them before I I went there, but not quite like this. So what what you do is quite like this. So what what you do is quite like this. So what what you do is you’re at a really high altitude and you you’re at a really high altitude and you you’re at a really high altitude and you go walk into the forest. It’s dusk, the go walk into the forest. It’s dusk, the go walk into the forest. It’s dusk, the sun is setting and you know a bunch of sun is setting and you know a bunch of sun is setting and you know a bunch of people stand around this one area people stand around this one area people stand around this one area especially and you you just quietly wait especially and you you just quietly wait especially and you you just quietly wait and then the sun completely sets and you and then the sun completely sets and you and then the sun completely sets and you start to see little fireflies and it start to see little fireflies and it start to see little fireflies and it becomes pitch black and you see like becomes pitch black and you see like becomes pitch black and you see like millions. It was so incredible. I’ve millions. It was so incredible. I’ve millions. It was so incredible. I’ve never seen anything like this. It was never seen anything like this. It was never seen anything like this. It was really magical. I’ve seen a lot of weird really magical. I’ve seen a lot of weird really magical. I’ve seen a lot of weird animals up close in the wild. I’ve had a animals up close in the wild. I’ve had a animals up close in the wild. I’ve had a lot of weird experiences with animals on lot of weird experiences with animals on lot of weird experiences with animals on all seven continents of the world. I’ve all seven continents of the world. I’ve all seven continents of the world. I’ve literally sat next to a real penguin in literally sat next to a real penguin in literally sat next to a real penguin in Antarctica. So, I don’t say this Antarctica. So, I don’t say this Antarctica. So, I don’t say this lightly. Uh I’m really really into lightly. Uh I’m really really into lightly. Uh I’m really really into animals. My whole family is. And this is animals. My whole family is. And this is animals. My whole family is. And this is definitely in the top 10 experiences definitely in the top 10 experiences definitely in the top 10 experiences I’ve ever had in the wild with animals. I’ve ever had in the wild with animals. I’ve ever had in the wild with animals. So, really, really magical special So, really, really magical special So, really, really magical special moment that that is kind of stuck with moment that that is kind of stuck with moment that that is kind of stuck with me in my brain. So, I wanted to try to me in my brain. So, I wanted to try to me in my brain. So, I wanted to try to recreate that recreate that recreate that like on screen for for everyone to like on screen for for everyone to like on screen for for everyone to enjoy. I’m actually not going to play it enjoy. I’m actually not going to play it enjoy. I’m actually not going to play it uh on the video. I want people to go uh on the video. I want people to go uh on the video. I want people to go visit. So, click the link. There’s a visit. So, click the link. There’s a visit. So, click the link. There’s a link in the description. It’s a really link in the description. It’s a really link in the description. It’s a really quick simple little thing. It’s really quick simple little thing. It’s really quick simple little thing. It’s really really simple this one. But uh I want really simple this one. But uh I want really simple this one. But uh I want you to just go go click and experience you to just go go click and experience you to just go go click and experience it yourself. I’ve tried my best to like it yourself. I’ve tried my best to like it yourself. I’ve tried my best to like put that experience on the screen. So, put that experience on the screen. So, put that experience on the screen. So, it’s just a relaxing little calm little it’s just a relaxing little calm little it’s just a relaxing little calm little thing to just check out. It seriously thing to just check out. It seriously thing to just check out. It seriously takes like 30 seconds. Um, but the goal takes like 30 seconds. Um, but the goal takes like 30 seconds. Um, but the goal is to make you stop, relax, breathe. is to make you stop, relax, breathe. is to make you stop, relax, breathe. This is this is the intro page. If you This is this is the intro page. If you This is this is the intro page. If you do go to, if you click on the link, turn do go to, if you click on the link, turn do go to, if you click on the link, turn on your audio. Um, yeah, I put a lot of on your audio. Um, yeah, I put a lot of on your audio. Um, yeah, I put a lot of work into like getting the experience work into like getting the experience work into like getting the experience just right. Lighting, uh, the the audio. just right. Lighting, uh, the the audio. just right. Lighting, uh, the the audio. I I did that myself actually. I found a I I did that myself actually. I found a I I did that myself actually. I found a bunch of audio files and actually did bunch of audio files and actually did bunch of audio files and actually did that part myself. So yeah, I’m super that part myself. So yeah, I’m super that part myself. So yeah, I’m super excited. How did I build this? So I excited. How did I build this? So I excited. How did I build this? So I built it by built it by built it by um using Gemini to to code help me code um using Gemini to to code help me code um using Gemini to to code help me code it like the lighting because I I tried a it like the lighting because I I tried a it like the lighting because I I tried a few um LLMs to do the the lighting part, few um LLMs to do the the lighting part, few um LLMs to do the the lighting part, the particles to make the fireflies, but the particles to make the fireflies, but the particles to make the fireflies, but it it was pretty underwhelming until the it it was pretty underwhelming until the it it was pretty underwhelming until the more recent Claude that did a better more recent Claude that did a better more recent Claude that did a better job. But Jim and I really knocked that job. But Jim and I really knocked that job. But Jim and I really knocked that part out of the park. And the video, I part out of the park. And the video, I part out of the park. And the video, I tried so hard to find an open source. I tried so hard to find an open source. I tried so hard to find an open source. I tried to find a paid video that I could tried to find a paid video that I could tried to find a paid video that I could just like put in. just like put in. just like put in. I just couldn’t find one exactly like I just couldn’t find one exactly like I just couldn’t find one exactly like how I wanted. So, I used the new uh Veo how I wanted. So, I used the new uh Veo how I wanted. So, I used the new uh Veo the like the new Google model for making the like the new Google model for making the like the new Google model for making videos and I just used that. [  ] it. I videos and I just used that. [  ] it. I videos and I just used that. [  ] it. I was like, I’m going to just generate was like, I’m going to just generate was like, I’m going to just generate one. I don’t care because it’s like more one. I don’t care because it’s like more one. I don’t care because it’s like more exactly what I want. and I got it to exactly what I want. and I got it to exactly what I want. and I got it to work. And it’s not perfect. I I do think work. And it’s not perfect. I I do think work. And it’s not perfect. I I do think it could be better. I think it’s like it could be better. I think it’s like it could be better. I think it’s like 90% there, but I just got to ship. I got 90% there, but I just got to ship. I got 90% there, but I just got to ship. I got to move on. So, good enough really. And to move on. So, good enough really. And to move on. So, good enough really. And I don’t really want AI video. Like, I I don’t really want AI video. Like, I I don’t really want AI video. Like, I didn’t want that. I really tried to do didn’t want that. I really tried to do didn’t want that. I really tried to do this without generating a video. It’s this without generating a video. It’s this without generating a video. It’s fine if it makes the particles, the code fine if it makes the particles, the code fine if it makes the particles, the code to put the fireflies on the screen. I to put the fireflies on the screen. I to put the fireflies on the screen. I don’t care. But I just couldn’t find don’t care. But I just couldn’t find don’t care. But I just couldn’t find one. And I I was willing to pay money one. And I I was willing to pay money one. And I I was willing to pay money for one. I just could not find a good for one. I just could not find a good for one. I just could not find a good video for exactly what I was looking video for exactly what I was looking video for exactly what I was looking for. So, [  ] it, you know? It’s just for. So, [  ] it, you know? It’s just for. So, [  ] it, you know? It’s just why not? Like, I I was really I’m pretty why not? Like, I I was really I’m pretty why not? Like, I I was really I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. So, go happy with how it turned out. So, go happy with how it turned out. So, go check it out. Hit the play button. It’s check it out. Hit the play button. It’s check it out. Hit the play button. It’s really really quick. This is a simple really really quick. This is a simple really really quick. This is a simple quick project. I was going to release quick project. I was going to release quick project. I was going to release this next week, but my big Christmas this next week, but my big Christmas this next week, but my big Christmas one, my big big big Christmas project. I one, my big big big Christmas project. I one, my big big big Christmas project. I have spent weeks and weeks on this. It’s have spent weeks and weeks on this. It’s have spent weeks and weeks on this. It’s behind. It’s It’s really behind. I’m behind. It’s It’s really behind. I’m behind. It’s It’s really behind. I’m It’s just not quite there. I need the It’s just not quite there. I need the It’s just not quite there. I need the rest of this week. I need this weekend rest of this week. I need this weekend rest of this week. I need this weekend and then I’m going to release that next and then I’m going to release that next and then I’m going to release that next week. I want it to be really good that week. I want it to be really good that week. I want it to be really good that one. So, I had to bump the I had to swap one. So, I had to bump the I had to swap one. So, I had to bump the I had to swap things out, unfortunately. Um, but I things out, unfortunately. Um, but I things out, unfortunately. Um, but I think it’s for the best because this was think it’s for the best because this was think it’s for the best because this was ready to go. I was like, “This is done.” ready to go. I was like, “This is done.” ready to go. I was like, “This is done.” And I want the Christmas one to be And I want the Christmas one to be And I want the Christmas one to be really polished and really good really polished and really good really polished and really good experience. And that one is like 10x experience. And that one is like 10x experience. And that one is like 10x more involved than this project. That is more involved than this project. That is more involved than this project. That is a really serious one. That’s the biggest a really serious one. That’s the biggest a really serious one. That’s the biggest thing I’ve I’ve built for my 25 projects thing I’ve I’ve built for my 25 projects thing I’ve I’ve built for my 25 projects challenge. That’s the big big one. So challenge. That’s the big big one. So challenge. That’s the big big one. So stay tuned for that. Click the play stay tuned for that. Click the play stay tuned for that. Click the play button. Uh seriously, there’s no sign button. Uh seriously, there’s no sign button. Uh seriously, there’s no sign up. There’s nothing. There’s no modal. up. There’s nothing. There’s no modal. up. There’s nothing. There’s no modal. It’s really quick and chill. I promise. It’s really quick and chill. I promise. It’s really quick and chill. I promise. That’s it for today. Um so see you next That’s it for today. Um so see you next That’s it for today. Um so see you next week.