Bye Bye Lexicala, Hello OpenAI

For more than a year Word Holder ran entirely on Lexicala's dictionary API. It worked fine, but the "no caching" rule made it harder and harder to build the kind of tool I want: fast, friendly, and fun to use. If more users started using it, costs would skyrocket too with having to make a paid API call for every word every time a user wanted to see the definition. So I decided to switch to OpenAI.

Why the switch?

Costs: Above all, not being able to cache results was a deal-breaker. No more paying for the same word every time a definition is shown.

Speed: With caching I can serve repeat lookups instantly.

Why OpenAI?

OpenAI lets me own - and cache the responses, and on top of that, their models can do way more than static dictionary entries. Definitions, examples, usage notes, even adapting to different skill levels — all possible just by changing the prompt. A lot of fine-tuning is laying ahead.

What's new?

Fresh examples: Instead of one canned sentence, you get examples that feel alive and relevant.

Contextual definitions: Not there yet, but the model can explain words in simpler or more advanced terms depending on who's reading.

Quizzes: Always part of the plan, now powered by the same engine.

Under the hood

Moving from a "fixed" dictionary API to AI responses took some re-engineering. I now craft prompts carefully so the output is structured (JSON first, human-readable later), and I cache results so lookups are snappy.

A note of caution

AI is powerful, but not perfect. Definitions might vary slightly, and sometimes it gets things wrong. I do my best to filter and validate, but if you're preparing for an exam or need precise usage, cross-check with a traditional dictionary too.

Looking ahead

I'm grateful for Lexicala's quality data, but their restrictions didn't match the goal and vision I for Word Holder. OpenAI gives me freedom to build faster, more playful features — and that's what excites me most.

This is still a work in progress, made by one developer who loves both software and languages. Thanks for holding your words with me!