Paul, a developer with ADHD who recently became unemployed, created Koi.rest—a virtual zen garden featuring animated koi fish. The project emerged from personal stress and a desire to build something calming.
According to the source, Paul had long wanted to create a digital version of a zen garden but postponed the idea because he didn’t know JavaScript and lacked capacity to learn it at that time. He described this as letting “perfect be the enemy of good,” keeping the concept to himself rather than pursuing an imperfect version.
The turning point came when Paul decided to use AI tools to build what he envisioned. Rather than coding it himself, he used artificial intelligence to generate the technical implementation while he handled design, research, testing, and refinement. “I just wasn’t the one coding it,” he explained in the project description.
The resulting website is a quiet, minimal interface where visitors can watch koi fish swim in a virtual pond. Paul framed the project as prioritizing functionality and accessibility over technical purity. “Yes, there’s something noble about making something entirely on your own,” he wrote, “but what good is an idea that just sits in my head?”
The site reflects Paul’s philosophy of shipping good-enough work rather than endlessly perfecting unreleased ideas. He described Koi.rest as “the weird, little, quiet koi pond” and “the silly project of passion”—a small corner of the internet where strangers can watch fish together.
Paul noted that creating the project proved therapeutic for his own stress management. “I hope this pond helps you as much as it helped me,” he wrote.
The project also serves as a personal announcement: Paul is currently seeking employment and has included a call for anyone who might help with job opportunities.
Key facts
- Paul created Koi.rest using AI tools to build the technical implementation
- He previously postponed the project because he didn’t know JavaScript
- The virtual pond is designed as a calming, meditative experience
- Paul became unemployed in early August and has ADHD
- He prioritized shipping a working project over waiting to build it perfectly himself