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Built a Network State super app in four AI prompts? Here's what happened:
223 sats \ 15 comments \ @lunin 27 Jul AI
The challenge: Can AI build a government? Over the last two days, I have been exploring Base44, an AI that can develop complete web applications based on prompts. With a limit of five requests per day (25 per month), I decided to attempt something ambitious: to create 'Shegby – The Network State', a complete digital society platform.
The vision: Beyond Traditional Borders Shegby isn't just another app — it's an experiment in post-geographic governance. The core idea is this: what if citizenship was based on mutual verification rather than birthplace? What if territory was defined by people rather than land?
Prompt 1: The Foundation Started with the basics: invite-only registration, where every user vouches for their invitee. No random sign-ups, no bots. If your invitee misbehaves, you are held accountable. This creates natural quality control and builds trust networks organically.
Prompt 2: The economy We have added a P2P marketplace where citizens can offer services to each other. Imagine a global map dotted with avatars — click on someone in Tokyo offering language lessons or a developer in Lagos. It's like creating a distributed economy where borders don't matter.
Prompt 3: The Social Layer A dating service has been implemented with a twist: you can only pursue one connection at a time and must be willing to meet in person. No endless swiping, no catfishing. Real connections only.
Prompt 4: The Polishing MetaMask integration for Web3 identity, admin controls and user analytics. Is the app starting to feel like an actual, functional society? Not yet — many improvements are still to come.
What emerged was fascinating. The invite system creates natural scarcity — you can't just "sign up" to Shegby. Someone has to vouch for you. This immediately makes membership valuable and creates FOMO. People start asking: 'Who can get me in?'
The P2P marketplace isn't just about commerce; it's about mutual aid, too. Need help in a foreign city? Your fellow citizens can help. Building something? Find collaborators within the network. The dating service encourages intentionality. There's no ghosting or games – just real people who want to meet other real people.
The limitation: Speed vs. vision. With only five daily requests, development slows down. I have dozens more features planned, such as governance systems, economic incentives and reputation mechanisms. The vision and AI capability are there, but the free tier is constraining.
Why this matters now: We are living through the breakdown of traditional institutions. Nation-states seem increasingly dysfunctional. Tech platforms extract value without giving anything back to the community. Network states offer an alternative based on voluntary association, mutual aid and shared purpose. However, they require infrastructure. They need places where citizens can find each other, help each other and build things together.
The Opportunity Right now, Shegby is small. Getting in is still possible if you know someone. However, as the network grows and trust chains extend, access will become increasingly difficult. Early members will become the foundation of something larger.
Want in? I'm looking for beta testers who are genuinely interested in helping to develop this project. If you're interested in network states or P2P economics, or if you simply want to be part of something novel, get in touch on Telegram: @LuninDmitry or leave your email address on the website to join the waiting list - https://app--shegby-the-network-state-66015653.base44.app/login?from_url=https://app--shegby-the-network-state-66015653.base44.app/&app_id=68850fa6685787ba66015653
I am also seeking donations to upgrade my Base44 subscription, for coffee and cookies. Faster development means we can ship governance tools, economic incentives and reputation systems while the momentum is high.
What features would you add to a digital nation? What problems should network states solve first? The future of governance could be taking shape, one invite at a time.
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52 sats \ 7 replies \ @optimism 27 Jul
Network states offer an alternative based on voluntary association, mutual aid and shared purpose.
Why do I need a network state if I can help people I like on SN, or another small networked community of my choice?
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100 sats \ 6 replies \ @lunin OP 27 Jul
Why do I need a network state if I can help people I like on SN, or another small networked community of my choice?
So that I could help you too, for example. And so that you can help on a larger scale, if you wish.
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10 sats \ 5 replies \ @optimism 27 Jul
So that I could help you too, for example.
What is preventing that from happening right now here on a networked community, versus what a network state would offer?
And so that you can help on a larger scale, if you wish.
What makes a network state scale further than a platform without the state? The exclusivity?
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100 sats \ 3 replies \ @lunin OP 27 Jul
So that I could help you too, for example. What is preventing that from happening right now here on a networked community, versus what a network state would offer? And so that you can help on a larger scale, if you wish. What makes a network state scale further than a platform without the state? The exclusivity?
My personal motivation started with simple things. I once found myself in a situation while travelling that required a lawyer, but I was in a country whose language I didn't speak and where English wasn't widely spoken. I needed quick help, or at least some advice, and luckily a complete stranger helped me in the end. This gave me the idea of creating an app that would put me in touch with like-minded people.
Not everyone can trust everyone, though - you need to check the person somehow. Hence, HumanRank was born - an algorithm similar to PageRank. In short, and with many assumptions, if someone has checked the user, why shouldn't I trust them?
Dating is a separate, complex topic in general, but the market is huge and existing apps do not solve the problem, as far as I and my friends are concerned. People need to meet in person instead of swiping, and everything will be clear over a cup of coffee after 5–10 minutes of conversation.
There is a lot more to say here. All of this fits into the larger scheme of how current systems do not solve many of the assigned problems and how current communities are so disparate that you still need to find them to ask for help.
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10 sats \ 2 replies \ @optimism 27 Jul
I needed quick help, or at least some advice, and luckily a complete stranger helped me in the end.
Like this? #999345
This gave me the idea of creating an app that would put me in touch with like-minded people.
Right, so it's not a state per se? Your problem statement and solution remind me a bit of Rotary. Networking with likeminded people that want to make the world a better place?
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100 sats \ 0 replies \ @lunin OP 27 Jul
Right, so it's not a state per se? Your problem statement and solution remind me a bit of Rotary. Networking with likeminded people that want to make the world a better place?
Yes, that's true, but if you change something, it's not just for yourself, but for many others too. I'll start small and Base44 is great if you can set tasks for it or connect AI to help organise tasks.
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100 sats \ 0 replies \ @lunin OP 27 Jul
Like this? #999345
No, it was simpler for me - I hit a cow in a remote part of Thailand. My car was wrecked and I didn't know where I was or how to access local services. Fortunately, the owner of a nearby hotel spoke excellent English and helped me sort everything out. Similar cases have happened before, some simpler and some more severe, and the locals have helped in those situations too.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @lunin OP 27 Jul
It is probably also important to mention that I often encountered requests for help 'on the spot', such as:
  • meet someone at the airport with a lot of luggage or children.
  • recommending a doctor or hospital in a particular city or country. these are requests for help that require physical presence, not remote assistance.
I can help when I'm nearby; it's not a problem. I know I'm not the only one, so why don't we help each other, including physically, as they say, 'on the spot'?
And yes, according to Balaji S., it’s a long way to the Network State, but it’s better to define the goal immediately. I did this without fear of scaring others or raising questions – and I have answers, by the way.
In general, this post is about Base44, which I am delighted with. However, for a smoother experience, you still need to connect AI to structure tasks and issue them in batches for implementation through Base44.
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10 sats \ 3 replies \ @byzantine 27 Jul
why do i need to replace a human run government with software that mimics a human run government?
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0 sats \ 2 replies \ @lunin OP 27 Jul
why do i need to replace a human run government with software that mimics a human run government?
If you mean that the message in the thread is about AI, then I only praise Base44 here.
However, if you want to discuss the topic of network states, according to Balaji S., then you should start with his book.
In short, no, such a replacement is not expected. Minimising govenment is what I would like, and current tools already allow you to do this.
Security and anonymity come first; solutions already exist. All that remains is to implement them in the application and test them.
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10 sats \ 1 reply \ @d680ecaa8e 27 Jul
network states itself is a big chapter.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @lunin OP 27 Jul
network states itself is a big chapter.
The Four-Stage Evolution: • Startup Society • Network Union • Network Archipelago • Network State
These stages form the backbone of Balaji’s concise definition: A network state is a highly aligned online community (startup society) with a capacity for collective action (network union) that crowdfunds territory around the world (network archipelago) and eventually gains diplomatic recognition from pre-existing states.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @lunin OP 27 Jul
Rereading my post, it sounds more like a press release for a product that's barely functioning yet. I got ahead of myself, sorry!
To be brutally honest about Base44 specifically, I'm genuinely impressed. I burned through yesterday's and today's five prompts, and the amount I accomplished is remarkable. As a former web studio owner, I understand development timelines and scope — what would normally take week was done in day.
Of course, there are quirks and limitations, but for MVP development? Even the free tier can produce something incredible. The AI actually understands context across sessions, maintains code consistency and can handle complex feature requests without breaking existing functionality. There is a secret, though: I am, of course, familiar with developing applications and sites. I also clearly know what I want, although I allowed myself to add a lot of unnecessary things. The most important thing is that I used Claude AI to help me create prompts for Base44.
The real magic isn't just the speed — it's that non-technical founders can now prototype complex ideas without hiring entire development teams. That's genuinely revolutionary.
It's still early days for the actual Shegby app, but as a tool, Base44 is already making a big difference. It's changing the way I think about building software entirely.
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10 sats \ 1 reply \ @Macoy31 27 Jul outlawed
stackers have outlawed this. turn on wild west mode in your /settings to see outlawed content.