Colin Smillie's Technology Lab

WhereIdeasBecomeProducts

Name: Traffic Duco
Author: Colin Smillie

I'm a technology executive by day. This is where I build things I'm curious about. Exploring AI-assisted development, mobile apps, e-commerce, and whatever catches my attention next.

See What I've Built About the Lab

Shipped Projects

Live Products

Next.js

iOS, Shopify & More

Assisted Development

The Lab

Idea Warehouse is where I experiment with new tools, frameworks, and ideas. I build e-commerce stores, mobile games, news aggregators, and whatever else sparks my curiosity, often using AI-assisted development with Cursor, Claude, and other emerging tools. Each project is a chance to learn something new and ship something real.

Wolf Wednesday

Unleash Your Inner Wolf. A pop-up e-commerce brand built on Shopify, selling wolf-themed apparel with a fun, midweek energy. Optimized for conversion with a streamlined storefront and bold brand identity.

2024 · Built with Shopify and custom theme development

Shopify StoreEcommerce OptimizationPop-up Site

Cash Grab NG: Vault Heist Game

A fast-paced arcade iOS game where you sprint through a high-security vault, snatching cash and dodging robotic cops. Built with AI-assisted development, featuring global leaderboards, power-ups, and addictive gameplay.

2025 · Built with Cursor AI and Swift

AI (Cursor)iOS DevelopmentGame Development

Fresh News

Canada's freshest news. A bilingual news aggregator pulling headlines from 75+ Canadian media outlets. Built with Next.js, featuring real-time updates and topic filtering.

2025 · Built with Next.js and server-side rendering

Next.jsNews AggregatorRSS Integration

Traffic Duco

A traffic management and urban planning iOS app paired with a WordPress content platform. Delivered real-time traffic data and planning resources for city planners and commuters alike.

2018 · Built with Swift and WordPress

iOS DevelopmentWordPress

Eyes On Toronto

A live event and online marketing campaign that brought Toronto's creative community together. Driven by social media buzz and digital promotion to maximize attendance and engagement.

2016 · Event marketing and digital promotion

Online MarketingLive EventSocial Media

SlashID

A disruptive identity technology startup focused on authentication. SlashID reimagined how users prove who they are online, bringing a fresh approach to digital identity and access management.

2019 · Startup branding and product strategy

BrandingProduct ManagementDisruptive Technology

Latest from the Lab

Built with AI · Part 1

Cash Grab NG: Building a Game I Couldn't Have Built Alone

Cash Grab started as a Cocos2d prototype years ago. Here's how AI helped me rebuild it from scratch in Swift and ship it...

Mar 14, 20255 min read

Built with AIAI-assisted deviOSSwiftCursorGame dev

View all learnings

How I Build

Start with Curiosity

Every project starts with a question I can't stop thinking about. What if I built a news aggregator? What would it take to ship an iOS game? Curiosity drives what I work on.

Lean on AI Tools

I use Cursor, Claude, and other AI-assisted development tools to move fast. AI handles the implementation details I can reason about but haven't built before. I bring 25 years of product judgment.

Ship Something Real

Nothing stays a prototype. Every project on this site is live: on the App Store, on Shopify, on the web. Shipping is the point. That's where you learn what works.

Learn in Public

The Learnings section is where I write up what happened. What the AI tools could and couldn't do, what surprised me, and what I'd do differently. Honest notes, not marketing.

Have an Idea? Let's Talk

I'm always interested in interesting problems and new collaborations. If you have a project, a question, or just want to talk shop, reach out.

Get in Touch

Open to Collaborations

Fast Response

Always Building