STEVE

The description states that STEVE is a 3D graphing program with advanced rendering controls for lighting, shadows, materials, etc., designed to make mathematics beautiful. The author, David Bachman, built it primarily using Codex (OpenAI's code generation tool), starting in early February and continuing through at least GPT 5.6 sol. It supports various mathematical object types including parameterized curves, surfaces, and implicitly defined surfaces, with adjustable variables and animation capabilities. The app includes import/export features for projects, PNGs, and STL files, as well as turntable views and GIF recording.

The author reports that STEVE has been shared with social media circles and is available online for anyone to play with. No revenue, customer data, or traction metrics are provided beyond the self-reported development history and feature list.

The description states that STEVE is:

• A 3D graphing program
• With advanced rendering controls for lighting, shadows, materials
• Capable of creating reflective, mirror-like surfaces and glass-like surfaces with adjustable index of refraction
• Able to control how light casts shadows
• Capable of setting emission levels for glowing effects
• A tool for visualizing mathematical equations in 3D
• Supports parameterized curves, parameterized surfaces, and implicitly defined surfaces
• Allows variables to be adjustable with sliders and animatable through continuous ranges
• Has import/export features including saving projects, exporting high-resolution PNGs, and STL files for 3D printing
• Includes turntable view and GIF recording capabilities

The author notes that at least 95% of STEVE was built using Codex, starting with GPT 5.4 and advancing through GPT 5.6 sol.

The description states:

• STEVE is positioned as a 3D graphing program with advanced rendering controls
• The author claims it "does both" — combining graphing calculator functionality with sophisticated rendering apps
• It aims to make mathematics beautiful
• The author states this is surprising, suggesting no app like this existed before

The positioning appears to be:

• A specialized tool for educators and researchers in mathematics
• Combining mathematical visualization with artistic rendering capabilities
• Positioned as filling a gap in the market for such a hybrid tool

Not evidenced.

The description does not identify specific customer segments or target personas. It mentions teachers and researchers as potential users but does not provide evidence of actual customer targeting or segmentation.

Not evidenced.

There is no information provided about pricing, monetization strategy, or business model. The author states that STEVE is available online for anyone to play with, suggesting it may be free or open access, but this is not confirmed.

The description states:

• Built primarily with Codex (OpenAI's code generation tool)
• Development started in early February
• Advanced versions were built using GPT 5.4 through GPT 5.6 sol
• The author has been actively developing since GPT 5.6 sol release
• Features include animated GIFs, parameterized curve intersections, point light sources, discrete variables, etc.
• Has a feedback form accessible from the toolbar

The technical approach appears to be AI-assisted development using Codex tools, with iterative improvements based on new model versions.

Not evidenced.

The description states that STEVE has been shared with social media circles and is available online for anyone to play with. However, there is no evidence of:

• User adoption metrics
• Customer base
• Revenue or monetization
• Market traction
• Product maturity beyond basic functionality

Not evidenced.

The description does not provide information about:

• Direct competitors in the 3D graphing space
• Indirect competitors
• Market positioning relative to existing tools
• Competitive advantages or differentiators

Inferences based on self-reported evidence:

• The product appears to be a personal project by one developer (team size: 1)
• No evidence of commercial traction, revenue, or customer adoption
• Reliance on AI development tools (Codex) may create dependency risks
• Limited information about long-term sustainability or scalability
• No clear path to monetization or business model
• The author's own account is the only source of information

1. What specific user feedback have you received beyond your social media circles?
2. How do you plan to monetize STEVE given that it's currently available for anyone to play with?
3. What are your plans for scaling beyond a single developer?
4. Have you identified any specific market segments or customer personas who would pay for this tool?
5. What is the competitive landscape, and how does STEVE differentiate from existing 3D graphing tools?
6. How do you plan to maintain and improve the product given that it's built with AI tools?