There is a reason I had to lock my better version of this (https://quickish.site) behind Google OAuth to start. Like it or not, this type of stuff is going to be more popular than it was when Netlify / Heroku was doing it a decade ago.
I built this by testing a workflow for a service I started (hobby project) called quickish (https://quickish.site). You can just remix this (basically forks it and hosts it on your own space on quickish) for free. Can be public too. Can use the "Remix" button on the bottom right (just need a google account to login) or on CLI run: `npm i -g quickish && quickish remix create quickish/hn-flipboard`, there is also a quickish/flipboard that the HN one was remixed from (just a git fork behind the scenes).
You can work on it locally however you like, there is also a `quickish dev` command you can run in the site folder that starts up a local dev server with live reload. When you're happy with the changes just run `quickish . /flipboard` and it will publish it.
With all of that said, I am working on a version that is exactly what you are asking for. An editable board that lets you change the grid size, give it a unique url and password protect on top of a POST endpoint that let's you change the content via API (also all hosted on quickish) for that exact use case. I have a few more optimizations I am going through and will get that out.
For those finding it now: Added more realistic flap sound effects. Mobile improvements. UI tweaks with flap animations. You can remix this and make your own, change it, etc. Download the source and have some fun. Thank you all!
I don't disagree at all on the AI design. I can do a bit more (I have worked as a senior UI engineer at Nike and AWS), the reality is many of the parts I wanted to focus on outside the UI of the flaps got that "Claude Designed This" feel to it.
The original drop flap board I remixed this from (also one I did as a demo) I added a couple more rows and cols. I played with a few things but felt like this was more in-line with what I wanted the result to be but it still feels like it could be better.
I tried to use a more digital sound at first, then went a step more realistic (ElevenLabs actually) but would have preferred to just record a real one.
If you were to "Remix" it and have it on your own quickish page that settings dialog appears however it is simply an oversight on my part that it doesn't say that explicitly.
In Prague near the main railway station there is a physical installation made from discarded Pragotron split-flap cards. Installation named Variety was made by Richard Loskot and it randomly generates sentences.
