When Roxy’s son was hospitalized yet again, she noticed nurses struggling to calculate his g-tube feed rates, so she built solution with simply HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, then almost didn’t share it due to everyone’s favorite pal, imposter syndrome. This talk chronicles a very specific calculator’s evolution into a production React PWA with AI integration, now used daily by families worldwide, who even find it through organic Google searches. Through honest code comparisons, you’ll see when vanilla JavaScript hits its limits, why React’s patterns became necessary, and how AI tools can accelerate development while you continue learning. You’ll also leave with a six-step framework for iterative development that overcomes the fear of shipping imperfect solutions. Whether you’re considering a React migration, curious about AI-assisted development, or sitting on a side project, you’ll leave with technical insights and a renewed motivation to ship.