M
MathisG
Hi Calistree team,
First, thanks for the app. I use it regularly as a beta user and this is probably the most feature rich yet easier to use app I've tried alla round. And the great exercise library is top tier.
Yet, I have one big pain point, and I think a single feature could fix it.
THE PROBLEM
Creating or editing a workout from scratch is slow. For every exercise I have to:
  1. Tap add
  2. Find the exercise
  3. Often dig into a progression tree, where I can only add the exercise right now to some workout place, not add it to my list to which I'll bulk add to a place.
  4. Optionally add it to a superset (and sometimes delete the existing superset first, because I can't extend a superset in one step)
  5. Adjust sets and rep range (which start with 2-3 sets of 10-40s when I often use 1 set of 30-60s for stretching)
Then I repeat all of that for the next exercise. For a 20-exercise, 30-second stretch routine of about 10 to 12 minutes, this takes ages. The result is that I keep delaying creating or updating my routines, and sometimes I skip using the app altogether.
THE PROPOSAL
A text-based, scriptable way to build a workout: one exercise per line, with sets, reps, timers and supersets written in a short syntax. The app parses it and maps each line to your existing exercise library.
Liftosaur already does this well with Liftoscript, and its docs are a good reference: https://www.liftosaur.com/doc/liftoscript
Example of what I would type for a stretch routine:
Cat Cow / 2x30s
Child's Pose / 2x30s
Pigeon Pose / 2x30s|10s
Hamstring Stretch / 2x30s / superset: A
Quad Stretch / 2x30s / superset: A
And for strength work:
Push Up / 3x8-12 / 90s
Pull Up / 4x5
Plank / 3x1 60s|30s
Syntax ideas worth borrowing from Liftosaur:
  • Exercise / sets x reps, with rep ranges (3x8-12)
  • Set timer and rest timer in one token (60s|30s), useful for holds and stretches
  • superset: A to group exercises
  • Comments (//) for exercise notes
  • A progression ladder written inline, similar to Liftosaur's exercise variations (Push Up | Diamond Push Up | Archer Push Up). This maps nicely onto Calistree's progression trees.
EXERCISES NOT FOUND
If a line does not match a known exercise, the app should not fail. It could highlight the line and offer a quick search, or let me create a custom exercise in place, then continue parsing the rest.
SUGGESTED UX
  • An "Edit as text" toggle on any workout, so I can also export an existing workout to text, tweak it, and re-import it
  • Autocomplete for exercise names while typing
  • Inline validation with clear errors
  • Paste support, so I can drop in a routine from notes or a message
WHY IT MATTERS
  • Much faster creation and editing, especially for long routines like mobility, stretching and warm-ups
  • Easy to share, copy and version routines as plain text
  • Opens the door to AI-assisted workflow: people could paste a routine generated by any AI tool straight into the app
  • The same format could serve as the backend contract for a future in-app AI coach that generates or adjusts workouts
  • Desktop use would be super fast and easy
Happy to test an early version or give feedback on the syntax. Thanks for considering it!