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Workflows / SaaS MVP

Build a SaaS MVP with AI coding tools

Most MVPs fail by doing too much. This workflow keeps the AI on a short leash: write a one-page spec, scaffold fast, then switch to an agent that reads your whole repo for the real build. Swap any tool for the one you already pay for.

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The steps

Recommended tools link to their Agentdex pages. These are starting points, not rankings: pick what you already pay for.

  1. Plan

    A one-page spec: the user, the one job, and what is out of scope.

    Use Claude Code. Good at long back-and-forth in your terminal, and it can write the spec straight into the repo.

    Or try: Cursor, Gemini CLI

    Interview me about my SaaS idea, one question at a time. Then write SPEC.md: target user, the single core job, 5 must-have features, and an explicit "not in v1" list.

  2. Prototype UI

    Clickable screens for the core flow before any backend.

    Use v0. Generates React UI from a prompt, so you can see the flow before you commit to it.

    Or try: Lovable, Bolt

    Build the main dashboard for this SPEC.md: an empty state, a list view and a create form. Use plain, accessible components. No fake data beyond 3 example rows.

  3. Build

    Real auth, database and the core feature, in your own repo.

    Use Cursor. An AI editor that edits across files, with project rules to keep its style consistent.

    Or try: Windsurf, Cline

    Read SPEC.md and .cursor/rules. Implement the core job end to end with auth. Work in small commits, list the files you change, and stop to ask before adding a dependency.

  4. Test

    Tests for the money paths: sign-up, the core action, and permissions.

    Use Claude Code. An agent that can run your test suite, read the failures and fix them in a loop.

    Or try: Aider, Codex

    Write tests for sign-up, login, the core action and "user A cannot see user B's data". Run them, fix failures, and tell me anything you could not test.

  5. Deploy

    A live URL with env vars and secrets set outside the code.

    Use Cloudflare Pages. Free tier, git-based deploys and preview URLs per branch.

    Or try: Netlify, Replit Agent

    Write a DEPLOY.md checklist for this app: build command, env vars needed (names only), where secrets live, and how to roll back.

  6. Maintain

    Catch errors and ship small fixes without breaking things.

    Use GitHub Copilot. Lives in GitHub and your editor, so small fixes and PR reviews stay close to the code.

    Or try: Sentry, Jules

    Review this PR for bugs, security issues and missing tests. Be specific and quote the lines. Do not rewrite style.