4 months building my SaaS with AI — here’s the sh*t no one talks about
Content Summary
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinion among the commenters is that AI is a powerful tool but must be used with caution. Many agree that AI can generate code quickly, but it lacks the judgment and understanding required for production-grade applications. Some commenters suggest that AI should be used as a junior developer, not a senior one, and that engineers need to understand the fundamentals to spot bad AI-generated code. There are also debates about whether AI can ever truly replace human developers, with some arguing that it's only useful for prototyping and not for actual production systems. A few commenters express skepticism about the effectiveness of AI in generating high-quality code, while others believe it can be a valuable assistant if used correctly.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | https://stripe.com | Payment Processing | Used for handling payments, but faced issues with live mode and webhook validation |
| AI coding tools | N/A | AI Code Generation | Used for building landing page, login, dashboard, and backend logic, but led to bugs and poor architecture |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Lack of understanding of core development concepts (e.g., database, billing, session management)
- Reliance on AI without knowing how to debug or improve code
- Difficulty in managing real-world user scenarios and edge cases
- Inability to maintain a scalable and secure product
Problems to Solve:
- How to handle payment flows and webhook validation
- How to avoid data exposure and middleware issues
- How to manage subscription logic and prevent billing chaos
- How to identify and fix bad AI-generated code
Potential Solutions:
- Learn the basics of database, billing, and session management
- Use AI as a junior developer, not a senior one
- Implement proper logging and testing before launch
- Focus on problem-solving and critical thinking rather than just relying on AI
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Learning core development concepts to better utilize AI
- Testing with real users and real cards before launch
- Using AI as a tool to speed up development, not replace human judgment
- Building a strong foundation to avoid technical debt and scalability issues
Marketing & Acquisition:
- No specific marketing strategies mentioned, but the post itself serves as a form of organic content marketing
- Sharing personal experiences and lessons learned can attract like-minded indie hackers
Monetization & Product:
- The author mentions using AI for 90% of development, suggesting that AI can be a key part of the product development process
- The post highlights the importance of understanding the underlying systems to ensure product reliability and security
User Engagement:
- Community discussions on Reddit provide insights and advice from other developers
- Comments show active engagement and exchange of ideas about AI usage in SaaS development