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Introduction

This guide is designed for anyone getting started with Woz, even if you do not have a technical background. It covers the core features you should know, along with practical best practices to help you move from idea to working app more efficiently.

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Key Features You Should Know

Understanding these core features will help you build faster and avoid common mistakes while working with Woz.

Plan Mode

Review before building. Best for large changes.

Build Mode

Apply changes immediately. Best for quick edits.

Select Elements

Click to select. No need to describe location.

Bug Fix

Woz detects and fixes errors automatically.

Screenshot to Chat

Capture screen for visual context.

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Plan Mode

Plan Mode works like a smart co-pilot that reviews your idea before any building happens. Instead of jumping directly into changes, Woz first analyzes your request and creates a clear step-by-step plan for you to review.

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How to use it

  1. Type what you want to build or change in the prompt bar.
  2. Make sure Plan Mode is selected.
  3. Send your prompt and Woz will analyze your project.
  4. Review the plan that Woz generates.
  5. Make edits if needed.
  6. Approve the plan and Woz will automatically switch to Build Mode to execute it.
Use Plan Mode for large changes or new features. Reviewing the plan first helps prevent mistakes later.

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Build Mode

Build Mode is designed for situations where you know exactly what you want to change. It skips the planning step and applies the change immediately.

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How to use it

  1. Switch to Build Mode using the toggle in the prompt bar.
  2. Describe the change you want to make.
  3. Send the prompt and Woz will apply the change immediately.
  4. Check the preview panel to confirm the result.
If your change affects multiple screens or features, use Plan Mode instead. For quick edits, Build Mode is faster.

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Select Elements

Select Elements is one of the most powerful features in Woz and also one of the easiest to use. Instead of describing where something is in your app, you can simply click on it. Woz attaches that exact element to your chat so you can instruct it what to change.

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How to use it

  1. Turn on Select Elements from the prompt bar.
  2. Click the element in your app preview that you want to modify.
  3. The element will attach automatically to your chat.
  4. Describe the change.
  5. Send the prompt and Woz will update that specific element.
Example prompts: 
Make this icon larger.
Change this button color to blue.
Increase the padding inside this card.
You can also select an entire section or frame. This is useful when changing layouts, background colors, or styles across a full screen.

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Bug Fix

Bugs happen in every app. Woz simplifies the process of finding and fixing them. When Woz detects an issue, a bug icon appears automatically. You do not need to understand the technical error. Woz can analyze and fix it for you.

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How to use it

  1. Look for the bug icon when Woz detects issues.
  2. Click it to open the error panel.
  3. Review the list of detected errors.
  4. Select the bugs you want fixed.
  5. Click Ask Woz to Chat so the issues attach to the chat.
  6. Briefly describe what caused the problem.
  7. Send the prompt and Woz will analyze and fix the errors.
Before finishing your project, run a final bug check to make sure everything works correctly.

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Screenshot to Chat

Sometimes it is easier to show what you want to change instead of describing it. Screenshot to Chat allows you to capture the current screen from the preview panel and attach it directly to your conversation with Woz. This gives Woz visual context for the change you want to make.

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How to use it

  1. Find the camera icon in the preview panel.
  2. Click it to capture the current screen.
  3. The screenshot attaches automatically to the chat.
  4. Describe the change you want.
  5. Send the prompt and Woz will apply the update.
Use Screenshot to Chat when describing layout changes across an entire screen. It provides clearer context than text alone.

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Best Practices for Building on Woz

Following these practices will help you build faster and avoid common issues.

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1. Start with what your app should do

Focus first on the problem your app solves. Example: 
"I want to build a tracker for small business owners to log daily sales."
Woz can then determine the appropriate layout and structure.

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2. Use Plan Mode for complex work

If your request affects multiple features or screens, start with Plan Mode. For smaller changes like colors, text, or spacing, Build Mode is usually faster.

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3. Review the plan before approving it

Plan Mode shows exactly what Woz intends to do. Take a moment to review it before approving. If something looks incorrect, ask Woz to adjust the plan first.

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4. Use Select Elements or Screenshot to Chat

Instead of describing where something appears on a screen, use visual tools. Click the element directly or capture a screenshot so Woz understands the context instantly.

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5. Be specific in your prompts

Clear prompts produce better results. Instead of: 
Make it look better.
Try: 
Increase the font size of the card title and add more spacing between cards.
Vague prompts get vague results. The more specific you are, the better Woz can match your intent.

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6. Make one change at a time

Avoid sending long lists of changes in a single prompt. Make one change, review it in the preview, then continue. This helps catch issues early.

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7. Check for bugs regularly

After making major updates, quickly check the bug panel. Fixing issues early prevents larger problems later.

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8. Start a new chat session for new tasks

Use the + button at the top of the chat panel to create a new session when you begin a different task. Woz still remembers the context of your project, but separating sessions helps keep instructions organized.

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9. Test your app like a real user

Before sharing your app, interact with it as if you were a first-time user. Sign up, tap buttons, submit forms, and move through the screens. This helps catch usability issues that are easy to miss during development.

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Ready to Build?

Visit withwoz.com to start building your app, or reach out to the Woz support team if you need help.