Making a consumer interface that visualizes a real-world construction — just like the Thirty Meter Telescope’s mirror — would possibly seem to be a job that calls for deep information of geometry, D3.js, and SVG graphics. However with a Giant Language Mannequin (LLM) like Claude or ChatGPT, you needn’t know the whole lot upfront.
This text paperwork a journey in constructing a posh, interactive UI with no prior expertise in D3.js or UI growth normally.
The work was executed as a part of constructing a prototype for an operational consumer interface for the telescope’s main mirror, designed to point out real-time standing of mirror segments.
It highlights how LLMs assist you “get on with it”, supplying you with a working prototype
even once you’re unfamiliar with the underlying tech.
Extra importantly, it reveals how iterative prompting — refining your requests step-by-step —
leads not solely to the precise code but additionally to a clearer understanding
of what you are making an attempt to construct.
The Objective
We wished to create an HTML-based visualization of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s main mirror, composed of 492 hexagonal segments organized symmetrically in a round sample.
We started with a high-level immediate that described the construction, however quickly realized that to achieve my aim, I might must information the AI step-by-step.
Step 1: The Preliminary Immediate
“I wish to create an HTML view of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s honeycomb mirror.
Attempt to generate an HTML and CSS primarily based UI for this mirror, which consists of 492 hexagonal segments organized in a round sample.
Total construction is of a honeycomb. The construction ought to be symmetric.
For instance the variety of hexagons within the first row ought to be identical within the final row.
The variety of hexagons within the second row ought to be identical because the one within the second final row, and many others.”
Claude gave it a shot — however the end result wasn’t what I had in thoughts. The format was blocky and never fairly symmetric. That is once I determined to take a step-by-step method.
Step 2: Drawing One Hexagon
“This isn’t what I would like… Let’s do it step-by-step.”
“Let’s draw one hexagon with flat edge vertical. The hexagon ought to have all sides of identical size.”
“Let’s use d3.js and draw svg.”
“Let’s draw just one hexagon with d3.”
Claude generated clear D3 code to attract a single hexagon with the proper orientation and geometry. It labored — and gave me confidence within the constructing blocks.
Lesson: Begin small. Verify the muse works earlier than scaling complexity.
Step 3: Including a Second Hexagon
“Good… Now let’s add another hexagon subsequent to this one. It ought to share vertical edge with the primary hexagon.”
Claude adjusted the coordinates, putting the second hexagon adjoining to the primary by aligning their vertical edges. The format logic was starting to emerge.
Step 4: Creating the Second Row
“Now let’s add another row.
The hexagons within the second row share vertical edges with one another just like the primary row.
The highest slanting edges of the hexagons within the second row ought to be shared with the underside slanting edges of the hexagons within the first row.
The variety of hexagons within the second row ought to be such that the primary row seems centrally positioned with the second row.”
Preliminary makes an attempt did not correctly align the slanting edges.
“Oops… this doesn’t share the slanting edges with the earlier row.”
However finally, after clarifying spacing and offset logic, Claude bought it proper.
Lesson: Geometry-based layouts typically require a number of iterations with cautious visible inspection.
Step 5: Increasing right into a Symmetric Construction
“Now we have to create greater construction with extra hexagons organized in additional rows such that:
The general construction seems round like honeycomb.
The variety of hexagons within the rows goes on rising after which goes on lowering to type a wonderfully symmetric construction.
The entire variety of hexagons must be 492 to match the TMT telescope.
We will have an empty hexagon (exhibiting empty house) precisely on the middle of the circle.”
Claude used a ring-based format method to simulate round symmetry. However at first:
“This isn’t round however appears extra like a hexagonal general view…”
Then I instructed:
“Attempt with solely 6 hexagons within the first and final row.”
This transformation improved symmetry and helped obtain a visually round format. The variety of hexagons per row elevated after which decreased — precisely as desired.
Step 6: Tuning the Central Opening
“That is higher however we want a smaller opening on the middle.The black house on the middle is just too massive. It ought to be at most 1 or a number of hexagons.”
By decreasing the empty house and rebalancing the inside rings, we lastly bought a well-packed, round construction with a small central hole — matching the TMT design.
Lesson: Use domain-specific constraints (like complete depend = 492) as guideposts for format parameters.
Step 7: Including Numbering and Tooltips
“We wish to have a quantity on every hexagonal phase. They need to be numbered sequentially. The primary within the first row ought to be 1 and the final within the final row ought to be 492. After we present the hexagonal phase data on mouseover, we should always present the quantity as nicely.”
Claude initially assigned numbers primarily based on ring index, not row order.
“You might be producing numbers primarily based on place within the ring… However the numbering ought to be row-based. So we should always one way or the other map the rings to the row. For instance, Ring 13 phase quantity 483 is in row 1 and ought to be numbered 1, and many others. Are you able to recommend a technique to map segments from rings to rows this fashion?”
As soon as this mapping was applied, the whole lot fell into place:
- A round format of 492 numbered segments
- A small central hole
- Tooltips exhibiting phase metadata
- Visible symmetry from outer to inside rings
Reflections
This expertise taught me a number of key classes:
- LLMs assist you get on with it: Even with zero information of D3.js or SVG geometry, I may begin constructing instantly. The AI scaffolded the coding, and I realized via the method.
- Prompting is iterative: My first immediate wasn’t unsuitable — it simply wasn’t particular sufficient. By reviewing the output at every step, clarified what I actually wished and refined my asks accordingly.
- LLMs unlock studying via constructing: In the long run, I did not simply get a working UI. I bought an comprehensible codebase and a hands-on entry level into a brand new expertise. Constructing first and studying from it.
Conclusion
What began as a obscure design concept was a functioning, symmetric, interactive visualization of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s mirror — constructed collaboratively with an LLM.
This expertise reaffirmed that prompt-driven growth is not nearly producing code — it is about pondering via design, clarifying intent, and constructing your approach into understanding.
For those who’ve ever wished to discover a brand new expertise, construct a UI, or sort out a domain-specific visualization — do not wait to study all of it first.
Begin constructing with an LLM. You may study alongside the way in which.
Making a consumer interface that visualizes a real-world construction — just like the Thirty Meter Telescope’s mirror — would possibly seem to be a job that calls for deep information of geometry, D3.js, and SVG graphics. However with a Giant Language Mannequin (LLM) like Claude or ChatGPT, you needn’t know the whole lot upfront.
This text paperwork a journey in constructing a posh, interactive UI with no prior expertise in D3.js or UI growth normally.
The work was executed as a part of constructing a prototype for an operational consumer interface for the telescope’s main mirror, designed to point out real-time standing of mirror segments.
It highlights how LLMs assist you “get on with it”, supplying you with a working prototype
even once you’re unfamiliar with the underlying tech.
Extra importantly, it reveals how iterative prompting — refining your requests step-by-step —
leads not solely to the precise code but additionally to a clearer understanding
of what you are making an attempt to construct.
The Objective
We wished to create an HTML-based visualization of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s main mirror, composed of 492 hexagonal segments organized symmetrically in a round sample.
We started with a high-level immediate that described the construction, however quickly realized that to achieve my aim, I might must information the AI step-by-step.
Step 1: The Preliminary Immediate
“I wish to create an HTML view of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s honeycomb mirror.
Attempt to generate an HTML and CSS primarily based UI for this mirror, which consists of 492 hexagonal segments organized in a round sample.
Total construction is of a honeycomb. The construction ought to be symmetric.
For instance the variety of hexagons within the first row ought to be identical within the final row.
The variety of hexagons within the second row ought to be identical because the one within the second final row, and many others.”
Claude gave it a shot — however the end result wasn’t what I had in thoughts. The format was blocky and never fairly symmetric. That is once I determined to take a step-by-step method.
Step 2: Drawing One Hexagon
“This isn’t what I would like… Let’s do it step-by-step.”
“Let’s draw one hexagon with flat edge vertical. The hexagon ought to have all sides of identical size.”
“Let’s use d3.js and draw svg.”
“Let’s draw just one hexagon with d3.”
Claude generated clear D3 code to attract a single hexagon with the proper orientation and geometry. It labored — and gave me confidence within the constructing blocks.
Lesson: Begin small. Verify the muse works earlier than scaling complexity.
Step 3: Including a Second Hexagon
“Good… Now let’s add another hexagon subsequent to this one. It ought to share vertical edge with the primary hexagon.”
Claude adjusted the coordinates, putting the second hexagon adjoining to the primary by aligning their vertical edges. The format logic was starting to emerge.
Step 4: Creating the Second Row
“Now let’s add another row.
The hexagons within the second row share vertical edges with one another just like the primary row.
The highest slanting edges of the hexagons within the second row ought to be shared with the underside slanting edges of the hexagons within the first row.
The variety of hexagons within the second row ought to be such that the primary row seems centrally positioned with the second row.”
Preliminary makes an attempt did not correctly align the slanting edges.
“Oops… this doesn’t share the slanting edges with the earlier row.”
However finally, after clarifying spacing and offset logic, Claude bought it proper.
Lesson: Geometry-based layouts typically require a number of iterations with cautious visible inspection.
Step 5: Increasing right into a Symmetric Construction
“Now we have to create greater construction with extra hexagons organized in additional rows such that:
The general construction seems round like honeycomb.
The variety of hexagons within the rows goes on rising after which goes on lowering to type a wonderfully symmetric construction.
The entire variety of hexagons must be 492 to match the TMT telescope.
We will have an empty hexagon (exhibiting empty house) precisely on the middle of the circle.”
Claude used a ring-based format method to simulate round symmetry. However at first:
“This isn’t round however appears extra like a hexagonal general view…”
Then I instructed:
“Attempt with solely 6 hexagons within the first and final row.”
This transformation improved symmetry and helped obtain a visually round format. The variety of hexagons per row elevated after which decreased — precisely as desired.
Step 6: Tuning the Central Opening
“That is higher however we want a smaller opening on the middle.The black house on the middle is just too massive. It ought to be at most 1 or a number of hexagons.”
By decreasing the empty house and rebalancing the inside rings, we lastly bought a well-packed, round construction with a small central hole — matching the TMT design.
Lesson: Use domain-specific constraints (like complete depend = 492) as guideposts for format parameters.
Step 7: Including Numbering and Tooltips
“We wish to have a quantity on every hexagonal phase. They need to be numbered sequentially. The primary within the first row ought to be 1 and the final within the final row ought to be 492. After we present the hexagonal phase data on mouseover, we should always present the quantity as nicely.”
Claude initially assigned numbers primarily based on ring index, not row order.
“You might be producing numbers primarily based on place within the ring… However the numbering ought to be row-based. So we should always one way or the other map the rings to the row. For instance, Ring 13 phase quantity 483 is in row 1 and ought to be numbered 1, and many others. Are you able to recommend a technique to map segments from rings to rows this fashion?”
As soon as this mapping was applied, the whole lot fell into place:
- A round format of 492 numbered segments
- A small central hole
- Tooltips exhibiting phase metadata
- Visible symmetry from outer to inside rings
Reflections
This expertise taught me a number of key classes:
- LLMs assist you get on with it: Even with zero information of D3.js or SVG geometry, I may begin constructing instantly. The AI scaffolded the coding, and I realized via the method.
- Prompting is iterative: My first immediate wasn’t unsuitable — it simply wasn’t particular sufficient. By reviewing the output at every step, clarified what I actually wished and refined my asks accordingly.
- LLMs unlock studying via constructing: In the long run, I did not simply get a working UI. I bought an comprehensible codebase and a hands-on entry level into a brand new expertise. Constructing first and studying from it.
Conclusion
What began as a obscure design concept was a functioning, symmetric, interactive visualization of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s mirror — constructed collaboratively with an LLM.
This expertise reaffirmed that prompt-driven growth is not nearly producing code — it is about pondering via design, clarifying intent, and constructing your approach into understanding.
For those who’ve ever wished to discover a brand new expertise, construct a UI, or sort out a domain-specific visualization — do not wait to study all of it first.
Begin constructing with an LLM. You may study alongside the way in which.
Making a consumer interface that visualizes a real-world construction — just like the Thirty Meter Telescope’s mirror — would possibly seem to be a job that calls for deep information of geometry, D3.js, and SVG graphics. However with a Giant Language Mannequin (LLM) like Claude or ChatGPT, you needn’t know the whole lot upfront.
This text paperwork a journey in constructing a posh, interactive UI with no prior expertise in D3.js or UI growth normally.
The work was executed as a part of constructing a prototype for an operational consumer interface for the telescope’s main mirror, designed to point out real-time standing of mirror segments.
It highlights how LLMs assist you “get on with it”, supplying you with a working prototype
even once you’re unfamiliar with the underlying tech.
Extra importantly, it reveals how iterative prompting — refining your requests step-by-step —
leads not solely to the precise code but additionally to a clearer understanding
of what you are making an attempt to construct.
The Objective
We wished to create an HTML-based visualization of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s main mirror, composed of 492 hexagonal segments organized symmetrically in a round sample.
We started with a high-level immediate that described the construction, however quickly realized that to achieve my aim, I might must information the AI step-by-step.
Step 1: The Preliminary Immediate
“I wish to create an HTML view of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s honeycomb mirror.
Attempt to generate an HTML and CSS primarily based UI for this mirror, which consists of 492 hexagonal segments organized in a round sample.
Total construction is of a honeycomb. The construction ought to be symmetric.
For instance the variety of hexagons within the first row ought to be identical within the final row.
The variety of hexagons within the second row ought to be identical because the one within the second final row, and many others.”
Claude gave it a shot — however the end result wasn’t what I had in thoughts. The format was blocky and never fairly symmetric. That is once I determined to take a step-by-step method.
Step 2: Drawing One Hexagon
“This isn’t what I would like… Let’s do it step-by-step.”
“Let’s draw one hexagon with flat edge vertical. The hexagon ought to have all sides of identical size.”
“Let’s use d3.js and draw svg.”
“Let’s draw just one hexagon with d3.”
Claude generated clear D3 code to attract a single hexagon with the proper orientation and geometry. It labored — and gave me confidence within the constructing blocks.
Lesson: Begin small. Verify the muse works earlier than scaling complexity.
Step 3: Including a Second Hexagon
“Good… Now let’s add another hexagon subsequent to this one. It ought to share vertical edge with the primary hexagon.”
Claude adjusted the coordinates, putting the second hexagon adjoining to the primary by aligning their vertical edges. The format logic was starting to emerge.
Step 4: Creating the Second Row
“Now let’s add another row.
The hexagons within the second row share vertical edges with one another just like the primary row.
The highest slanting edges of the hexagons within the second row ought to be shared with the underside slanting edges of the hexagons within the first row.
The variety of hexagons within the second row ought to be such that the primary row seems centrally positioned with the second row.”
Preliminary makes an attempt did not correctly align the slanting edges.
“Oops… this doesn’t share the slanting edges with the earlier row.”
However finally, after clarifying spacing and offset logic, Claude bought it proper.
Lesson: Geometry-based layouts typically require a number of iterations with cautious visible inspection.
Step 5: Increasing right into a Symmetric Construction
“Now we have to create greater construction with extra hexagons organized in additional rows such that:
The general construction seems round like honeycomb.
The variety of hexagons within the rows goes on rising after which goes on lowering to type a wonderfully symmetric construction.
The entire variety of hexagons must be 492 to match the TMT telescope.
We will have an empty hexagon (exhibiting empty house) precisely on the middle of the circle.”
Claude used a ring-based format method to simulate round symmetry. However at first:
“This isn’t round however appears extra like a hexagonal general view…”
Then I instructed:
“Attempt with solely 6 hexagons within the first and final row.”
This transformation improved symmetry and helped obtain a visually round format. The variety of hexagons per row elevated after which decreased — precisely as desired.
Step 6: Tuning the Central Opening
“That is higher however we want a smaller opening on the middle.The black house on the middle is just too massive. It ought to be at most 1 or a number of hexagons.”
By decreasing the empty house and rebalancing the inside rings, we lastly bought a well-packed, round construction with a small central hole — matching the TMT design.
Lesson: Use domain-specific constraints (like complete depend = 492) as guideposts for format parameters.
Step 7: Including Numbering and Tooltips
“We wish to have a quantity on every hexagonal phase. They need to be numbered sequentially. The primary within the first row ought to be 1 and the final within the final row ought to be 492. After we present the hexagonal phase data on mouseover, we should always present the quantity as nicely.”
Claude initially assigned numbers primarily based on ring index, not row order.
“You might be producing numbers primarily based on place within the ring… However the numbering ought to be row-based. So we should always one way or the other map the rings to the row. For instance, Ring 13 phase quantity 483 is in row 1 and ought to be numbered 1, and many others. Are you able to recommend a technique to map segments from rings to rows this fashion?”
As soon as this mapping was applied, the whole lot fell into place:
- A round format of 492 numbered segments
- A small central hole
- Tooltips exhibiting phase metadata
- Visible symmetry from outer to inside rings
Reflections
This expertise taught me a number of key classes:
- LLMs assist you get on with it: Even with zero information of D3.js or SVG geometry, I may begin constructing instantly. The AI scaffolded the coding, and I realized via the method.
- Prompting is iterative: My first immediate wasn’t unsuitable — it simply wasn’t particular sufficient. By reviewing the output at every step, clarified what I actually wished and refined my asks accordingly.
- LLMs unlock studying via constructing: In the long run, I did not simply get a working UI. I bought an comprehensible codebase and a hands-on entry level into a brand new expertise. Constructing first and studying from it.
Conclusion
What began as a obscure design concept was a functioning, symmetric, interactive visualization of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s mirror — constructed collaboratively with an LLM.
This expertise reaffirmed that prompt-driven growth is not nearly producing code — it is about pondering via design, clarifying intent, and constructing your approach into understanding.
For those who’ve ever wished to discover a brand new expertise, construct a UI, or sort out a domain-specific visualization — do not wait to study all of it first.
Begin constructing with an LLM. You may study alongside the way in which.
Making a consumer interface that visualizes a real-world construction — just like the Thirty Meter Telescope’s mirror — would possibly seem to be a job that calls for deep information of geometry, D3.js, and SVG graphics. However with a Giant Language Mannequin (LLM) like Claude or ChatGPT, you needn’t know the whole lot upfront.
This text paperwork a journey in constructing a posh, interactive UI with no prior expertise in D3.js or UI growth normally.
The work was executed as a part of constructing a prototype for an operational consumer interface for the telescope’s main mirror, designed to point out real-time standing of mirror segments.
It highlights how LLMs assist you “get on with it”, supplying you with a working prototype
even once you’re unfamiliar with the underlying tech.
Extra importantly, it reveals how iterative prompting — refining your requests step-by-step —
leads not solely to the precise code but additionally to a clearer understanding
of what you are making an attempt to construct.
The Objective
We wished to create an HTML-based visualization of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s main mirror, composed of 492 hexagonal segments organized symmetrically in a round sample.
We started with a high-level immediate that described the construction, however quickly realized that to achieve my aim, I might must information the AI step-by-step.
Step 1: The Preliminary Immediate
“I wish to create an HTML view of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s honeycomb mirror.
Attempt to generate an HTML and CSS primarily based UI for this mirror, which consists of 492 hexagonal segments organized in a round sample.
Total construction is of a honeycomb. The construction ought to be symmetric.
For instance the variety of hexagons within the first row ought to be identical within the final row.
The variety of hexagons within the second row ought to be identical because the one within the second final row, and many others.”
Claude gave it a shot — however the end result wasn’t what I had in thoughts. The format was blocky and never fairly symmetric. That is once I determined to take a step-by-step method.
Step 2: Drawing One Hexagon
“This isn’t what I would like… Let’s do it step-by-step.”
“Let’s draw one hexagon with flat edge vertical. The hexagon ought to have all sides of identical size.”
“Let’s use d3.js and draw svg.”
“Let’s draw just one hexagon with d3.”
Claude generated clear D3 code to attract a single hexagon with the proper orientation and geometry. It labored — and gave me confidence within the constructing blocks.
Lesson: Begin small. Verify the muse works earlier than scaling complexity.
Step 3: Including a Second Hexagon
“Good… Now let’s add another hexagon subsequent to this one. It ought to share vertical edge with the primary hexagon.”
Claude adjusted the coordinates, putting the second hexagon adjoining to the primary by aligning their vertical edges. The format logic was starting to emerge.
Step 4: Creating the Second Row
“Now let’s add another row.
The hexagons within the second row share vertical edges with one another just like the primary row.
The highest slanting edges of the hexagons within the second row ought to be shared with the underside slanting edges of the hexagons within the first row.
The variety of hexagons within the second row ought to be such that the primary row seems centrally positioned with the second row.”
Preliminary makes an attempt did not correctly align the slanting edges.
“Oops… this doesn’t share the slanting edges with the earlier row.”
However finally, after clarifying spacing and offset logic, Claude bought it proper.
Lesson: Geometry-based layouts typically require a number of iterations with cautious visible inspection.
Step 5: Increasing right into a Symmetric Construction
“Now we have to create greater construction with extra hexagons organized in additional rows such that:
The general construction seems round like honeycomb.
The variety of hexagons within the rows goes on rising after which goes on lowering to type a wonderfully symmetric construction.
The entire variety of hexagons must be 492 to match the TMT telescope.
We will have an empty hexagon (exhibiting empty house) precisely on the middle of the circle.”
Claude used a ring-based format method to simulate round symmetry. However at first:
“This isn’t round however appears extra like a hexagonal general view…”
Then I instructed:
“Attempt with solely 6 hexagons within the first and final row.”
This transformation improved symmetry and helped obtain a visually round format. The variety of hexagons per row elevated after which decreased — precisely as desired.
Step 6: Tuning the Central Opening
“That is higher however we want a smaller opening on the middle.The black house on the middle is just too massive. It ought to be at most 1 or a number of hexagons.”
By decreasing the empty house and rebalancing the inside rings, we lastly bought a well-packed, round construction with a small central hole — matching the TMT design.
Lesson: Use domain-specific constraints (like complete depend = 492) as guideposts for format parameters.
Step 7: Including Numbering and Tooltips
“We wish to have a quantity on every hexagonal phase. They need to be numbered sequentially. The primary within the first row ought to be 1 and the final within the final row ought to be 492. After we present the hexagonal phase data on mouseover, we should always present the quantity as nicely.”
Claude initially assigned numbers primarily based on ring index, not row order.
“You might be producing numbers primarily based on place within the ring… However the numbering ought to be row-based. So we should always one way or the other map the rings to the row. For instance, Ring 13 phase quantity 483 is in row 1 and ought to be numbered 1, and many others. Are you able to recommend a technique to map segments from rings to rows this fashion?”
As soon as this mapping was applied, the whole lot fell into place:
- A round format of 492 numbered segments
- A small central hole
- Tooltips exhibiting phase metadata
- Visible symmetry from outer to inside rings
Reflections
This expertise taught me a number of key classes:
- LLMs assist you get on with it: Even with zero information of D3.js or SVG geometry, I may begin constructing instantly. The AI scaffolded the coding, and I realized via the method.
- Prompting is iterative: My first immediate wasn’t unsuitable — it simply wasn’t particular sufficient. By reviewing the output at every step, clarified what I actually wished and refined my asks accordingly.
- LLMs unlock studying via constructing: In the long run, I did not simply get a working UI. I bought an comprehensible codebase and a hands-on entry level into a brand new expertise. Constructing first and studying from it.
Conclusion
What began as a obscure design concept was a functioning, symmetric, interactive visualization of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s mirror — constructed collaboratively with an LLM.
This expertise reaffirmed that prompt-driven growth is not nearly producing code — it is about pondering via design, clarifying intent, and constructing your approach into understanding.
For those who’ve ever wished to discover a brand new expertise, construct a UI, or sort out a domain-specific visualization — do not wait to study all of it first.
Begin constructing with an LLM. You may study alongside the way in which.
