Build a Free Family Dashboard on Your TV with Claude AI & Google Sheets

Build your own free family dashboard — step by step

You'll need a TV (or any always-on screen with a browser), a Google account, a free Netlify account, and 30–45 minutes. No coding required.

1. 1. Create the Google Sheet that powers the dashboard

   In Google Sheets, create a new spreadsheet and add one tab per widget you want on the TV: Schedule, Cheer, Meals, ToDo, Events. Put a clear header row at the top of each tab (e.g. Date | Time | Title | Notes). This sheet is the single source of truth — anyone in the family edits it from their phone.

2. 2. Publish the Sheet as JSON with Google Apps Script

   In your sheet, open Extensions → Apps Script. Paste a small script that reads each tab and returns it as JSON, then deploy it as a Web App (Execute as: Me, Access: Anyone). Copy the Web App URL — that's the live data feed your dashboard will read.

   // Apps Script — Code.gs
   function doGet() {
     const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
     const tabs = ['Schedule', 'Cheer', 'Meals', 'ToDo', 'Events'];
     const data = {};
     tabs.forEach(name => {
       const sheet = ss.getSheetByName(name);
       if (sheet) data[name] = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();
     });
     return ContentService
       .createTextOutput(JSON.stringify(data))
       .setMimeType(ContentService.MimeType.JSON);
   }

3. 3. Design the dashboard with Claude AI

   Open Claude, share a photo of the room the TV lives in, and describe the layout you want: 'Build a single-page family dashboard for a TV. Five widgets — today's schedule, cheer practice calendar, weekly meal plan, family to-do list, event countdowns. Match the farmhouse aesthetic in this photo. Read data from this URL every 60 seconds.' Paste your Apps Script Web App URL. Claude returns ready-to-deploy HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

4. 4. Host it on Netlify for free

   Save the file Claude gave you as index.html in a new folder. Go to netlify.com, drag the folder onto the Netlify dashboard, and it's live on a free *.netlify.app URL within seconds. No build step, no server, no monthly fee.

5. 5. Display it full-screen on the TV

   Open the Netlify URL on whatever the TV runs — a smart TV browser, a Chromecast, an Apple TV, a $35 Fire Stick, or an old laptop/Raspberry Pi plugged into HDMI. Put the browser in full-screen mode and you're done. The dashboard polls the sheet every 60 seconds, so any edit from any family member shows up automatically.

6. 6. Tweak it any time — just ask Claude

   Want a new widget? A different color palette? A holiday theme? Open the same Claude conversation, describe the change, and replace your index.html with the new version. Re-drag the folder onto Netlify and the TV updates on its next poll.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best free DAKboard alternative?

A TV you already own, a Google Sheet, a short Google Apps Script, and a free Netlify page designed by Claude AI. You get the same ambient calendar/meals/to-do display as DAKboard on a bigger screen, with no hardware purchase and no subscription.

Is there a free Skylight Calendar alternative?

Yes — this build. Skylight locks you into a 15" or 27" frame plus an annual plan to unlock features. The DIY version runs on any TV or display you already have, costs $0, and the whole family can edit it from their phone via Google Sheets.

DAKboard vs Skylight vs Hearth vs DIY — which should I pick?

DAKboard is the most customizable paid option but charges for hardware plus premium layouts. Skylight is the most polished out of the box but the most locked-down. Hearth is the most expensive. The DIY route wins on price ($0), screen size (whatever TV you have), and flexibility — but you do the 30-minute setup yourself.

Do I need to buy a digital calendar frame?

No. Any TV, monitor, or old tablet works. Drive it with a smart TV browser, a Chromecast, an Apple TV, a $35 Fire Stick, or a Raspberry Pi — whatever you already have. That's the whole reason this is a free DAKboard and Skylight Calendar alternative.

Will it look as nice as Skylight or DAKboard?

Often nicer, because Claude AI designs it from a photo of your room to match your decor. You're not stuck with a single template — ask Claude for a farmhouse look, a modern dark theme, kid-friendly colors, or a holiday refresh any time.

Does the family dashboard update automatically?

Yes. The TV polls your Google Sheet every 60 seconds, so when anyone edits a meal, adds a practice, or checks off a to-do from their phone, the screen updates on its own — no remote, no refresh, no app.

Do I need to know how to code to build this?

No. Claude AI writes the dashboard from a plain-English description and a photo of your room. The only 'code' you touch is pasting a short Apps Script snippet into Google Sheets — and that's copy-paste.

Can I show different widgets — not schedules and meals?

Yes. The tabs in your Google Sheet can be anything — chores, shopping lists, sports schedules, birthday countdowns, school pickups, prayer reminders. Tell Claude what widgets you want and it redesigns for them.