Build. Learn. Tinker.
This is your sandbox - a real app you can take apart, modify, and make your own.
Free Forever
4LO Tools is completely free and open source. No subscriptions, no premium tiers, no locked features. Fork it, modify it, make it yours.
If this helps you learn, consider donating to support continued development. But it's not required - the code is yours either way.
Why This Works
Why This Stack
Commodore 64
The best-selling computer of all time. 64KB of RAM. You turned it on and it said READY. - waiting for you to type BASIC commands. No mouse. No icons. Just a blinking cursor and a manual.
The lesson: Computers do exactly what you tell them. Nothing more. That's still true today - we just have more layers hiding it.
The World Wide Web
Tim Berners-Lee at CERN writes the first HTML document. It's ugly - just text with links. But suddenly documents could connect to other documents across the world. That's it. That's the revolution.
The lesson: HTML is still just text with links. Every website you've ever seen is built on this foundation.
JavaScript & PHP
Brendan Eich writes JavaScript in 10 days. PHP starts as a personal homepage tool. Both are messy, both get the job done. The web becomes interactive.
The lesson: "Perfect" code isn't required. Working code that solves problems is what matters.
Python Grows Up
Python 2.0 releases. Guido van Rossum's philosophy: code should be readable. Indentation matters. Clarity over cleverness. It becomes the language scientists, data people, and beginners actually enjoy using.
The lesson: Python reads like English on purpose. That's not weakness - it's design.
Flask
Armin Ronacher releases Flask. It's tiny compared to Django. That's the point. Start simple, add what you need. Instagram's first API runs on Flask.
The lesson: You don't need a framework that does everything. You need one that lets you understand what's happening.
Your Turn
Cloud environments like Replit mean you don't need to install anything. The barrier is gone. You can write Python that talks to eBay, tracks your builds, sends you alerts - real tools for real problems.
The lesson: The tools are easier than ever. The thinking is the same as it was in 1982.
Environment & Planning
2-3 hours
1.1 Fork This Project 5 min
Click "Fork" on Replit to get your own copy. Everything works immediately.
1.2 Explore the Files 15 min
app.py- Routes and logictemplates/- HTML pagesstatic/css/- Styling
1.3 Make a Small Change 10 min
Change the page title in base.html or a color in style.css. Watch it update live.
Data & CRUD
4-6 hours
2.1 See the Database 10 min
Open the Database tab in Replit. You'll see tables: jobs, phases, parts, photos.
2.2 Create Something 10 min
Add a new job from the dashboard. Watch it appear in both the UI and the database.
2.3 Read Data Flow 20 min
Find the route in app.py that shows a job. Trace how data goes from database → template.
job_view route
2.4 Update a Record 10 min
Change a phase status from "Planned" to "Done". Check the database - it changed there too.
2.5 Delete Safely 10 min
Delete a test phase. Use Replit's checkpoint to undo if needed.
Features That Sell
6-8 hours
3.1 Auto Calculations 20 min
Find where labor cost is calculated (hours × rate). Change the formula and see totals update.
3.2 Upload a Photo 15 min
Add a photo to a job. Find where it saves in static/uploads. Trace the upload code.
3.3 Share Link Magic 15 min
Copy a customer share link. Open in incognito - it works without login. Find the UUID in the code.
3.4 Progress Bar 15 min
The progress bar shows done ÷ total. Find this calculation and try changing it.
3.5 Flash Messages 10 min
Add a part, see "Part added!" appear. Find flash() in the code. Add your own message.
3.6 Stripe Donations 20 min
The donate page uses Stripe Checkout. Trace how it creates a payment session.
Make It Yours
Ongoing
4.1 Deploy Your App 10 min
Click Deploy in Replit. Pick a name. Your app is now live at yourname.replit.app
4.2 Change the Colors 20 min
Find CSS variables at the top of style.css. Change --bronco-teal to your favorite color.
4.3 Add a New Field 30 min
Add a "priority" field to jobs. Update the form, the route, and the template.
4.4 Build Something New 1+ hour
- Add email notifications
- Create a PDF export
- Build a new page entirely
What You Can Tell Clients
"I built a job tracker that local shops use."
Show them the Bronco II project. Real phases, real parts, real budget. It's not a tutorial - it's working software.
"Your customers can check progress without calling."
The share link is the killer feature. Every shop owner hates "where's my stuff?" calls. This eliminates them.
"I can customize it for your business in a week."
Change the labels, add their logo, adjust the phases to match their workflow. Fork, customize, deploy.
"Hosting is handled - it just works."
Replit handles the servers, the database, the SSL. You focus on the features, not the infrastructure.
eBay Parts Finder Script
Here's something real: a Python script that searches eBay for Bronco II parts and alerts you when prices drop. This is portfolio material - it shows you can write code that solves actual problems.
What It Does
- Searches eBay API for specific parts (fenders, bumpers, etc.)
- Tracks prices over time
- Sends you an alert when something drops below your target price
- Logs everything so you can see trends
Skills Demonstrated
- API Integration - Talking to external services
- Data Storage - Saving results to track over time
- Scheduling - Running automatically on a timer
- Notifications - Email or text when conditions are met
Why It Matters for Freelancing
Clients pay good money for exactly this kind of automation. Price monitoring, inventory alerts, competitor tracking - it's all the same pattern. Learn it once, sell it many times.