Cluster · 17 articles
AI Coding — the builder stack.
Claude Code, Cursor, MCP, agents, vibe coding. The terminal-and-IDE stack solo founders ship features with. Setup walkthroughs, real workflows, comparisons that matter, no benchmark theater.
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Cursor SDK Explained for Founders
Cursor released an SDK. Most founders don't need it. The ones who do save 10+ hours/week. Here's the 5-minute explainer and the 3 use cases that justify the learning curve.
Claude Code Beginner Guide 2026 (From Zero)
Never used a terminal? Never written code? This is the absolute zero-to-working-Claude-Code guide for non-engineer founders. 4 hours from install to first shipped script.
Claude Code Hooks: The Complete Tutorial (with 7 Real Examples)
Hooks turn Claude Code from a chat tool into a workflow engine. The event model, the settings.json shape, and 7 hooks I run daily on 500k.io to automate linting, security, and commits.
My Real Vibe Coding Workflow (8 Months In)
Vibe coding is what they call it when a non-engineer ships software by talking to AI in natural language. Here's mine — 8 months in, $9,500 MRR, what works and what's hype.
Building Your First MCP Server (No Engineering Degree)
MCP servers are how you give Claude (or any AI) access to your specific tools. Here's how to build your first one in 90 minutes, even if you're not a developer.
OpenAI Codex Tutorial for Non-Engineers (2026)
OpenAI Codex is back, and it's surprisingly good for non-engineers in 2026. The setup, the 4 use cases that actually work, and when to skip it for Claude Code or Cursor.
Best LLM for Code in 2026 (I Tested All 5)
Claude Sonnet 4.6, GPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, DeepSeek V3, and Grok 4 on the same 30 founder coding tasks. The honest verdict, the surprises, and which one I'd pay for if forced to pick one.
Replit Agent vs Claude Code in 2026
Two AI coding agents, two different bets. I ran the same 8 tasks on both for 30 days. Here's where each wins, where each lies, and which one I'd pick if you forced me.
Claude Code Plan Mode: When and How to Use It
Plan Mode is the single biggest Claude Code feature most founders never use. Here's when to flip it on, when to flip it off, and the 4-step routine that turns it into a force multiplier.
Cursor for Non-Engineers in 2026: The Real Setup
I'm not a developer. I run Cursor anyway and ship working code with it. Here's the exact setup, the rules I follow, and the 5 things I had to learn the hard way.
Vibe coding explained for founders (no engineering degree)
What 'vibe coding' actually is, why it's working in 2026, and the 5-step process for non-engineers to ship real products with AI. The honest version, not the hype.
Claude vs Gemini for solo founders (2026)
Honest Claude vs Gemini comparison after running both daily for 90 days. The 8 dimensions that matter for solo founders, the tasks each one wins, and which I keep paying for.
The real Claude Code workflow (my day-to-day)
Inside my actual Claude Code workflow on 500k.io. The 5 sessions a day, the subagent map, the CLAUDE.md sections, and what shipping looks like in 2026.
How to Write a Claude Skill in 2026 (Step-by-Step, No Engineering)
Writing your first Claude Skill takes 25 minutes if you know the structure. Here's the exact step-by-step from a 638-skill bank operator — no engineering required.
Why Claude Skills Are the Next App Store (and What It Means for Solo Founders)
I've indexed 638 Claude Skills and built a working bank for my own factory. Here's the App Store thesis — why skills will reshape solo founder economics in 2026.
How to Write a CLAUDE.md (the file that 10x'd my Claude Code)
A 580-line CLAUDE.md is the difference between Claude Code feeling like a smart autocomplete and a junior employee who knows your business. Here's the exact template I use.
Claude Code Pricing in 2026, Actually Explained
Anthropic moved Claude Code tiers on April 22 and partially walked it back. Here's the real pricing math after 9 months on Max 5x — what to pay, what to skip.
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