CreativeFlow – A Guided Brainstorming App

Hey HN,

I work in analytics engineering (SQL, Python) and this is the first website I've put on the internet since MySpace. I built it while ironically trying to brainstorm ideas for side projects.

The origin: I asked Perplexity whether any app implemented the complete scientific creativity process — not just "AI brainstorming" but the actual validated sequence: preparation → divergent generation → incubation → convergent evaluation. It told me pieces exist (Notion AI for capture, various timer apps, scattered brainstorming tools) but nothing that enforces the full process as a single guided workflow. So I built it.

What it does:

The app is a 4-stage wizard based on Wallas' 1926 model, updated with modern neuroscience on Default Mode Network (DMN) and Executive Control Network (ECN) interactions:

Preparation — Frame the problem and define constraints. Constraints are intentional: research shows limits improve creative output by reducing the search space (Stokes, 2022). Optional: upgrade AI to Gemini 2.5 Flash with your own free key — or use the built-in Llama 3 backend with zero setup.

Generation — Judgment-free idea capture with AI augmentation (Generate / SCAMPER / Wildcard Constraint). No delete button. No scoring. UI designed to keep your ECN quiet and let the DMN run.

Incubation — A 10-minute countdown with rotating neuroscience cards on DMN activation, spreading activation theory, and why the most creative people alternate between focus and rest. Skip is available but discouraged. Mind-wandering during rest produces measurably better insights than continued focus (Baird et al., 2012).

Verification — Weighted criteria scoring, AI auto-scoring, AI refinement, and AI next steps generation. Tab-based mobile UI so you can switch between the ranked idea list and scoring panel without scrolling. Export full session as .txt.

Tech stack:

React + TypeScript + Vite → Cloudflare Pages (static, no server)

Cloudflare Worker → Cloudflare Workers AI (Llama 3 8B, free tier) Optional BYOK: Gemini 2.5 Flash via direct browser API — on any error, silently falls back to Llama 3

localStorage only — no database, no auth, no backend

Built almost entirely with vibe coding (Cline + Claude) since I don't write React day-to-day

Rough edges:

No cloud sync — sessions live in your browser only No accounts, no sharing, no analytics

Link: https://creativeflow.pages.dev/

Feedback welcome, especially if you find this useful or have another method for coming up with ideas.