The meeting featured an in-depth analysis and comparison of the Onlook automation tool versus competitors Bolt and Lovable for building React web apps locally.
Attendees compared features, performance, ease of use, editing capabilities, design quality, speed, privacy, and cost.
Onlook was found to be free, user-friendly, and fast with strong local editing and privacy options, though Bolt produced the most content-rich output.
Additional resources, training, and community links for Onlook and automation were shared for further learning and support.
Action Items
No specific dated action items were identified in the transcript.
No owners or due dates were mentioned.
Onlook Overview & Walkthrough
Onlook allows users to visually edit React sites or apps and write changes back to code in real time.
Installation is straightforward with a desktop app; projects can be created with one click.
Offers side-by-side editing and previewing (desktop and mobile), local code access, and immediate update/approval of changes.
Enables quick creation and management of multiple pages, with easy style and content editing via an interactive chat function.
All files are stored locally, supporting privacy and offline development.
Features version control, deployment to custom/test domains, branding, and project settings management.
Supports more than just static websites (e.g., games, calculators).
Comparative Evaluation: Onlook vs. Bolt vs. Lovable
All three tools were tested using the same prompt to ensure a fair comparison.
Onlook was fastest in generating new pages and applying changes, with an intuitive UI and strong real-time editing capabilities.
Bolt produced more content and richer pages but tended to hallucinate data (e.g., creating fake testimonials).
Lovable lagged in design quality and page aesthetics and was slower than Onlook.
Only Onlook allowed free local coding, granular element selection, and did not rely on user credits, unlike other tools.
Deployment, Backup, and Additional Features
Onlook supports one-click deployment to preview sites or custom domains (Pro users).
Built-in backup and version restore features to safeguard work and roll back undesirable changes.
Branding and advanced settings are easily customizable within projects.
Community Resources and Training
AI Success Lab and AI Profit Boardroom communities offer cheat sheets, daily trainings, prompt collections, automations, and personalized support.
Users can request new automations and receive custom training or implementation support.
Opportunities are available for strategy sessions, coaching, and direct automation services.
Decisions
Bolt delivers the most content-rich output — Bolt is considered the winner for content and page richness, despite hallucinations; Onlook wins in speed, design, cost (free), and local privacy.
Onlook recommended as a strong alternative — Especially for users prioritizing local edits, privacy, and free access.
Open Questions / Follow-Ups
Some functionality (e.g., setting up About Me page locally) showed issues—may require further troubleshooting or redeployment.
Unclear if there are limits to the types of applications (beyond games, calculators, and websites) that Onlook can build; further testing suggested.