The Indie Hacker's Guide to Effortless Project Description Generation with AI

You've built something amazing. Your side project is functional, maybe even launched. But when it comes time to describe it—for your README, landing page, or project management tool—you draw a blank.

Writing project descriptions is tedious. You know what your project does, but translating that into clear, comprehensive text? That's a different skill entirely.

What if AI could write your project description by analyzing what you've actually built?

The Problem with Manual Descriptions

Writing project descriptions manually is painful:

• Time-consuming: Hours spent crafting the perfect description
• Incomplete: You forget features or don't explain them well
• Generic: Descriptions sound like every other project
• Outdated: As you add features, descriptions become stale
• Biased: You know too much, so descriptions assume knowledge

For indie hackers juggling multiple projects, this is especially frustrating. You want to build, not write documentation.

Two AI-Powered Solutions

SideProjectBuddy offers two ways to generate project descriptions automatically:

Method 1: Generate from Website URL

Point AI at your live website, and it analyzes:

• Page content: Headlines, descriptions, feature lists
• Meta tags: Title, description, keywords
• Structure: Navigation, sections, call-to-actions
• Purpose: What the site communicates about your project

The AI extracts your project name and generates a comprehensive description (100-250 words) that captures:

• What your project does
• Key features and capabilities
• Target audience
• Value proposition

Example:

You input: https://yourproject.com

AI analyzes the site and generates:

TaskFlow is a collaborative task management tool designed for remote teams who need simplicity without sacrificing power.

Key Features:

• Real-time collaboration with live updates
• Intuitive drag-and-drop task organization
• Customizable project boards and workflows
• Integrated time tracking and reporting
• Seamless integration with popular tools (Slack, GitHub, Notion)

Built for teams that are tired of overcomplicated project management tools, TaskFlow focuses on speed and ease of use while providing the essential features teams actually need.

Method 2: Generate from Translation Files

If you're building a web app with internationalization (i18n), your translation files contain a goldmine of information:

• UI labels: What features are called
• Button text: What actions users can take
• Navigation: How the app is structured
• Feature descriptions: How features are presented to users

Upload your translation JSON, and AI analyzes:

• Feature names and descriptions
• User actions and capabilities
• Navigation structure
• Target user language and terminology

Example:

Your translation file includes:

{
  "features": {
    "dashboard": "Dashboard",
    "analytics": "Analytics",
    "reports": "Generate Reports",
    "export": "Export Data"
  }
}

AI generates a description that accurately reflects these features without you having to manually list them.

Why AI-Generated Descriptions Are Better

1. Comprehensive Coverage

AI doesn't forget features. It systematically analyzes your content and includes everything relevant.

2. Objective Perspective

AI describes what's actually there, not what you think is there. This often reveals gaps or unclear messaging.

3. Consistent Structure

Generated descriptions follow a clear format:

• Opening paragraph (what it is)
• Key features (bulleted list)
• Target audience (who it's for)

4. SEO-Friendly

AI-generated descriptions often include:

• Relevant keywords naturally
• Clear value propositions
• Scannable formatting

5. Time Savings

Generate in seconds, not hours. Then edit and refine rather than writing from scratch.

Best Practices

1. Review and Refine

AI generates a great starting point, but you should:

• Add your unique perspective
• Include technical details AI might miss
• Adjust tone to match your brand
• Add specific examples or use cases

2. Update Regularly

As your project evolves:

• Regenerate descriptions when adding major features
• Update to reflect current capabilities
• Keep descriptions aligned with your latest version

3. Use for Multiple Purposes

One generated description can be adapted for:

• README files
• Landing pages
• Project management tools
• Pitch decks
• Documentation sites

4. Combine Methods

For best results:

1. Generate from URL for overall project understanding
2. Generate from translations for feature-specific details
3. Combine insights for comprehensive description

Real-World Impact

Developers using AI-generated descriptions report:

• 80% time savings compared to manual writing
• More complete descriptions that don't miss features
• Better SEO performance from keyword-rich content
• Easier onboarding for new team members or users

Common Use Cases

Use Case 1: New Project Setup

Starting a new project? Generate the description immediately:

1. Deploy a basic landing page
2. Generate description from URL
3. Use it in your project management tool
4. Share with potential users or investors

Use Case 2: Feature Updates

Added a major feature? Regenerate to include it:

1. Update your website/landing page
2. Regenerate description
3. Update all places where description appears

Use Case 3: Documentation

Need to document your project? Generate first, then expand:

1. Generate base description
2. Add technical details
3. Include setup instructions
4. Add screenshots and examples

Technical Details

How URL Analysis Works

1. Fetch: Retrieves your website's HTML
2. Parse: Extracts text content, meta tags, structure
3. Analyze: AI processes content to understand purpose
4. Generate: Creates structured description
5. Extract: Identifies project name from content

How Translation Analysis Works

1. Parse JSON: Reads translation file structure
2. Extract Features: Identifies feature names and descriptions
3. Understand Context: Analyzes UI structure from labels
4. Generate: Creates description based on available features
5. Format: Structures output for readability

Limitations and Considerations

AI-generated descriptions are powerful, but:

• May miss nuances: Review for accuracy
• Can be generic: Add your unique voice
• Require updates: Regenerate as project evolves
• Need refinement: Edit to match your style

Getting Started

1. Try URL Generation: Point AI at your website
2. Try Translation Generation: Upload your i18n files
3. Compare Results: See which method works better for your project
4. Refine: Edit generated descriptions to perfection

The Future of Project Documentation

As AI tools improve, generating project descriptions will become standard practice. Why spend hours writing what AI can generate in seconds?

The key is using AI as a starting point, not a replacement for your judgment. Generate, review, refine—that's the workflow.

Ready to stop writing project descriptions manually? Try SideProjectBuddy and generate your first AI-powered description today.