How I Built an AI-Assisted Prototype: 6 step blueprint

Build Your Own Apps (BYOA) using this stack!

After a friend recently asked me what build stack I’m using these days, I realized my development workflow had fundamentally transformed with the latest tools. What once required weeks can now be completed in a single day with the right toolchain.

I’ll walk you through my process - a systematic approach that combines AI assistance with modern development tools to accelerate every phase, from ideation to production deployment.

The Six-Step Blueprint for your apps

1. Ideation with AI assistants (ChatGPT and Claude)

2. Rapid MVP building using Loveable

3. Version control setup with Git

4. Backend customization with Windsurf IDE

5. Deployment using Replit

6. Domain setup and launch with Cloudflare

By the end of this guide, you'll have a practical blueprint for shipping your own AI application using AI-powered tools in record time.

1. Ideation: AI-Assisted Requirements Analysis

Start by leveraging AI to rapidly explore your concept and define technical requirements. This transforms vague ideas into actionable specifications.

Effective engineering prompt template:

I want to build an AI-powered {application type}. Help me with:
1. Core features that would make this valuable to users
2. Technical architecture considerations 
3. API integrations that would enhance functionality
4. Potential implementation challenges
5. Open-source libraries or frameworks that would accelerate development

Real example:

I want to build an AI-powered habit building companion app. What core features would make this valuable to users? Focus on what would create a compelling MVP. What would make this differentiate amount the many other habit building apps in the market?

Follow up with targeted questions about specific areas:

What 3D frameworks exist for building a web-based game app? What are the pros and cons for each and suggest which one is the best?
What's a simple but effective user flow for this type of app?

Implementation tip: Switch between AI assistants strategically. ChatGPT often excels at rapid brainstorming and specific technical implementations, while Claude tends to provide deeper analysis and more nuanced considerations. Using both gives you complementary perspectives.

The key is treating them as creative assistants, not authorities. Use your own judgment about which ideas to pursue.

2. Building the MVP: Loveable

With clear requirements, it's time to build quickly. Lovable.dev is an AI app builder that generates working prototypes in minutes.

After signing up, describe what you want to build, sample below:

Create "Purrple" - a habit-building web application with a distinctive purple cat character. This concept blends emotional engagement with AI-powered insights in a visually stunning environment.

Focus on creating a serene, interface with effects that makes habit tracking feel like a pleasant journey rather than a chore.

For this first version, let's implement:

- A stunning landing page with the purple cat mascot and core value proposition
- Simple onboarding flow introducing the three domains (Body, Heart, Mind)
- Basic habit tracking with visual streak representation
- Responsive biophilic environment that reflects user progress
- Smooth animations for all interactions

Potential color palette:

Deep purple (#6B46C1) for the cat and primary branding
Soft lavender (#E9D8FD) for secondary elements
Warm amber (#DD6B20) for highlights and accents

Let's build a beautiful, functional application that makes habit-building a delightful experience!

Loveable will generate the foundational code and project structure based on your description. The real power comes from iterative refinement:

Add new features to the habit tracking system
Improve the cat character

Pro tip: Loveable can integrate APIs by simply asking. Just say "Connect to OpenAI for text generation" and it handles the integration for you.

Ensure that you implement rate limits for your AI APIs to avoid unanticipated financial surprises!

When you're ready, export the code or sync directly to GitHub.

Technical assessment: Loveable works best for CRUD-style applications or content-based apps (blogs, dashboards, e-commerce). For very novel or complex algorithms, it might not generate perfect code, but still provides a valuable starting point.

3. Version Control: Git Implementation

Skip this section if you are familiar with Git.

Even when moving at lightning speed, proper version control is non-negotiable. Set up a structured repository:

# Initialize with appropriate .gitignore
git init
npx gitignore node

# Document environment variables (but don't commit secrets)
cp .env.example .env.local
echo ".env.local" >> .gitignore

# Initial commit with clear message
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit - AI generated MVP"

# Create development branch for ongoing work
git checkout -b development

Engineering best practice: Create a clear commit convention from the start. I use Conventional Commits for machine-readable history:

feat: Add user authentication system
fix: Resolve token expiration issue
refactor: Improve data fetch patterns

Before pushing to GitHub, ensure you're not committing sensitive configuration. Use .gitignore to exclude environment files or API keys.

4. Backend Customization: Windsurf IDE

The generated MVP is a solid foundation, but real applications need custom logic. Windsurf is an AI-powered code editor that understands your entire codebase.

Windsurf is essentially an IDE where you can chat with an AI that understands your project context, making it more effective than pasting code snippets into a general-purpose AI.

After installing Windsurf, opening your project and setting up Windsurf rules, try prompts like:

Create a new API route /api/feedback that accepts user feedback and stores it in a JSON file.

The login function isn't working - can you fix the authentication flow?

Because Windsurf has full context of your code, it can intelligently insert and adjust code across multiple files.

Here are valuable customizations to request:

1. Database Connections

Set up a Supabase client for storing user data and replace the dummy data with actual database queries

2. Authentication Enhancement

Implement proper error handling in the authentication flow, including specific error types for different failure modes

3. Performance Optimization

Add proper indexing to the MongoDB schemas based on our query patterns

The collaborative flow ensures you maintain control over how your app works while getting an 80% head start from the AI.

5. Deployment: Replit Integration

I prefer Replit for deployment as it provides a secure and easy process. Though I’m a small investor, I find it genuinely useful.

With a working app, let's deploy it so others can use it. Replit (referral link) provides an all-in-one environment that makes deployment remarkably simple.

First, import your code to Replit:

1. Create a new Repl, choosing the appropriate environment (Node.js, etc.)

2. Import directly from GitHub or copy your files

3. Set up environment variables in the SECRETS manager:

MONGODB_URI=mongodb+srv://username:password@cluster.mongodb.net/databaseJWT_SECRET=your-secure-jwt-secretOPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-openai-key

1. Create a .replit file for deployment configuration:

run = "npm run start"entrypoint = "server.js"[env]NODE_ENV = "production"[nix]channel = "stable-22_11"[deployment]run = ["sh", "-c", "npm run build && npm run start"]deploymentTarget = "cloudrun"

1. Click "Run" to test everything works in Replit's environment

When you're ready to deploy:

1. Navigate to the Deployments section

2. Create a deployment from your Repl

3. Give your deployment a name

4. Click "Deploy"

Replit will provide a public URL for your app (something like your-app-username.repl.app). You can rename the app and also configure a custom domain. Check it in a browser outside of Replit to confirm it's accessible.

6. Adding a Custom Domain: Cloudflare Configuration

To give your app a professional touch, let's put it on a custom domain using Cloudflare.

Here's the process:

1. Register a domain if you don't have one (Cloudflare offers domain registration, or use any registrar)

2. Add the domain to Cloudflare and update your domain's nameservers

3. In Cloudflare's DNS settings, add a CNAME record pointing to your Replit app:

Type: CNAMEName: @  (or subdomain like "app")Target: your-app.username.repl.coProxy status: Proxied (orange cloud)

1. Configure SSL/TLS settings:

   • Set mode to "Full (Strict)"

   • Enable "Always Use HTTPS"

   • Add security headers through Page Rules

Cloudflare automatically provides:

• Free SSL certificates (https works instantly)

• CDN caching for better performance

• Basic DDoS protection

Once DNS changes propagate (usually within an hour), your app will be accessible via your custom domain!

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My daughter asked me yesterday, “What’s a cat’s favorite color?” I thought, “Red, White, Black?” But she said, “No, no, no. Purrple Dad!” Haha! 😄

So here it is, introducing …

Purrple - Habit Building AI Companion

Generated using ChatGPT 4o Image Generation

Production Considerations and Next Steps

Building and launching an MVP is just the beginning. In a follow-up post (Part 2), I plan to cover critical production considerations:

1. Modular and Maintainable Codebase: Decouple core functionality from extensions via well-defined APIs. Organize software into distinct layers to simplify maintenance.

2. Authentication & Authorization: User signup/login, secure session management, and OAuth integration

3. Security Hardening: Protecting against common vulnerabilities and implementing proper data encryption

4. Database & Storage Solutions: Options beyond prototype data storage

5. User Privacy: Compliance with data protection standards

6. Scalability: Preparing for growth and handling increased traffic

7. Performance Tuning: Measuring and optimizing application performance

8. Testing & QA: Setting up automated testing and quality assurance processes

Essential Tools for AI App Development

Here's my actual toolkit for building AI-powered applications:

Development

• ChatGPT & Claude - AI thinking partners

• Loveable - AI application generator

• Windsurf - AI-powered IDE

• Replit - Rapid deployment environment

Infrastructure & Monitoring

• Cloudflare - CDN, security, and domains

AI Integration

• OpenAI API - For LLM capabilities

Try It Yourself!

This workflow revolutionized my product building. What took weeks now happens in a day or weekend.

The key is using AI as your assistant at every stage, from ideation to coding. It accelerates your skills, helping with grunt work while you focus on creativity and complex integration tasks.

Let me know how it goes! What did you build? Where did you face challenges? I’m always improving this workflow and would love to hear about your experiences.

Happy building! 🚀

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