Case study · 2026
Snippet Editor for Espanso
Edit a snippet without changing the ones you didn’t touch.
The problem
I wanted to edit snippets without hand-writing YAML. An editor that rewrites the whole file can quietly change content outside the user’s edit.
The decision
The app replaces the characters of the changed value, then reads the result back before saving. If it can’t validate the change and preserve the other snippets, it refuses to save.
The AI interaction
The current app has an assistant beside the snippets. It presents each suggested change as a card for the user to apply. A suggestion becomes a change through a deliberate action.
What changed after review
My first implementation passed its tests but changed an unrelated value from 02134 to 2134. Independent AI review found it. I changed the editing method and validation rather than treating a green test run as enough.
Built with AI assistance. The published account verifies an Apple Silicon run; it doesn’t establish Windows or Linux runtime testing, user adoption, or measured time savings.
Screens and interaction states
Alternatives for the next iteration
The next design exercise will compare inline changes with proposal cards. The comparison will examine context, readability, accidental acceptance, and handling several edits. These are proposed alternatives, not findings from a completed study.
Prototype and research status
The screenshots show the current app. A separate prototype for interrupted and conflicting edits is planned. No participant study or new prototype is presented as completed.
