The Challenge: Building a Mobile SaaS—Fast
As an indie hacker, I’m always looking for ways to build and launch projects quickly. I had an idea for an AI-powered meal tracking app that could analyze food images and estimate calories, proteins, and other nutrients. But instead of spending months coding everything manually, I wanted to see how much I could leverage AI to accelerate the process.
The goal was simple: launch a functional and monetizable SaaS in record time, with as little manual coding as possible.
The Tech Stack
I used a modern stack optimized for fast development and scalability:
- Frontend: Expo (React Native)
- Navigation: expo-router
- Backend & Authentication: Appwrite (Google & Apple Sign-In)
- Styling: NativeWind (Tailwind for React Native)
- Localization: expo-localization + i18next + react-i18next
- Payments: react-native-purchases (RevenueCat)
- State Management: Zustand
- Data Revalidation: TanStack Query
- Forms: React Hook Form
- HTTP Requests: Axios
- Local Storage: MMKV
- Ads: react-native-google-mobile-ads
The AI-Driven Development Workflow
Step 1: Generating the Base Project
Instead of manually setting up the project structure, I wrote a detailed prompt describing the app and used bolt.new to generate the initial codebase. I also included reference UI screenshots to guide the generation process. This alone saved hours of boilerplate coding.
Step 2: The Power of context.md
One of the most critical steps in this process was creating a context.md file. This document contained all the details about the project—architecture, features, folder structure, and coding conventions. Every time I needed to add a new feature, I provided this file as context to AI tools like Cursor and AI Agents, ensuring that the generated code followed the same patterns and structure.
The more detailed context.md was, the better the AI-assisted development became. This approach helped:
- Maintain consistency across the codebase.
- Reduce the need for manual refactoring.
- Speed up feature implementation significantly.
Step 3: AI-Assisted Iterations
Once I had the base project, I used Cursor as my AI-powered IDE to fine-tune the app. Any time I needed to create new features, I asked AI agents to generate code while ensuring consistency by referencing context.md.
This approach allowed me to:
- Quickly scaffold new screens and components.
- Maintain a consistent coding style across the project.
- Avoid repetitive tasks and focus on refining user experience.
Step 4: Automating Marketing & Copywriting
I didn’t stop at development—AI also helped with marketing. Using AI tools, I generated:
- App Store & Play Store descriptions (optimized for ASO).
- Launch texts for ProductHunt & Reddit.
- Social media posts for Twitter (X).
- TikTok video scripts to promote the app.
This meant I could focus on shipping while still ensuring the app had a strong launch strategy.
The Outcome
With AI handling around 80% of the development and marketing work, I was able to:
✅ Build a working prototype in just a few days.
✅ Integrate payments & gamification to make the app engaging and profitable.
✅ Launch the app without hiring a team or spending months coding manually.
Lessons Learned & Key Takeaways
1️⃣ AI doesn’t replace developers, but it massively speeds up the process. Instead of writing every line of code, I focused on orchestrating AI-generated components.
2️⃣ Good prompts are essential. The more detailed my instructions, the better the AI-generated output.
3️⃣ A well-structured context.md file is a game changer. The more information it contains, the more consistent and efficient the AI-generated code becomes.
4️⃣ AI-assisted marketing is a game changer. Writing store descriptions, social media content, and launch posts took minutes instead of hours.
5️⃣ Fast execution beats perfection. The app isn’t “perfect,” but it’s live, and that’s what matters.
Final Thoughts
This experiment proved that launching a SaaS doesn’t have to take months (or even weeks). With AI tools, indie hackers can move faster than ever, reducing both cost and time-to-market.
I’d love to hear from others: Have you used AI to accelerate your development process? What’s your experience been like?
🚀 Let’s discuss in the comments!
👉 Try the app: NutriAI on the App Store
Top comments (0)