Steve Chat: Custom AI Agent Interface

Jesse

Jesse Korzan

Custom AI Agent Interfaces

Role: Product Designer & Developer Timeline: 2025 Tools: Vanilla JavaScript, n8n, CSS Grid, WebSocket Streaming

The Problem

Most AI chat interfaces are locked into specific platforms or require heavy frameworks. Teams building custom AI agents or workflows need a lightweight, flexible front-end that can connect to any backend — without the bloat of enterprise chat SDKs or the limitations of hosted solutions.

The Solution

Built a production-ready chat UI that works with any webhook-based AI service. Clean, fast, and fully customizable — designed specifically for teams using n8n or custom AI workflows who need a polished interface without the overhead.
Key Features:
Multi-modal input: Text, images (drag-and-drop, paste, upload)
Real-time streaming: Natural conversation flow with token-by-token display
Session management: Persistent chat history across browser sessions
URL parameters: Share specific prompts via links (?p=your prompt)
Slash commands: Quick actions (/help, /history clear, /tools)
Dark mode: Auto-adapts to system preferences
Zero dependencies: Pure vanilla JavaScript, no frameworks
Responsive: Works seamlessly on desktop and mobile

Technical Architecture

Front-end:
Modular JavaScript structure (components, core, utils)
CSS Grid/Flexbox responsive layouts
CSS variables for easy theming
ES6 modules for clean separation of concerns
Integration:
Webhook-based AI connection (works with OpenAI, Claude, Ollama, n8n, custom APIs)
Configurable endpoints for text and image processing
Streaming response support
Session ID tracking for conversation continuity
Developer experience:
Simple config file for webhook URLs
One-click Replit deployment
Modular CSS structure for easy customization
Clear component patterns for extending functionality

Use Cases

For AI product teams:
Custom agent interfaces without building from scratch
Rapid prototyping of conversational AI experiences
White-label chat UI for client projects
For workflow automation:
Front-end for n8n AI workflows
Interface for custom RAG systems
Multi-modal input handling for image + text processing
For developers:
Learning resource for vanilla JS chat implementations
Base template for custom AI interfaces
Example of clean, framework-free architecture

Why This Matters

Most companies building AI agents either settle for generic chat UIs or spend months building custom interfaces from scratch. Steve Chat bridges that gap — it's production-ready but fully customizable, framework-free but feature-complete.
Design decisions:
No framework lock-in: Works with any backend, any AI service
Multi-modal from the start: Image support isn't an afterthought
Developer-friendly: Clear structure, easy to modify, well-documented
Performance-focused: Vanilla JS means fast load times and simple debugging

Live Project

👉 GitHub Repository 👉 Deploy-ready on Replit
What This Demonstrates:
I understand the full stack of building custom AI chat experiences — from designing intuitive multi-modal inputs to architecting clean, maintainable code. I know what teams building AI agents actually need: flexibility, performance, and the ability to customize without fighting a framework. This isn't a demo — it's a foundation for production AI interfaces.
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Posted Oct 25, 2025

Developed a customizable chat UI for AI services using vanilla JS and n8n. Open-source repo if you're ready to hack. Ready to re-deploy on Replit.

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Timeline

Dec 31, 2023 - Dec 30, 2024