How I Built an AI Tools Directory in an Internet Café — Next.js + Tailwind + Vercel

I spent the last few days building useaitools.me from scratch in an internet café in China. Here's the tech stack and what I learned along the way.

Stack: Next.js 16 + Tailwind CSS + TypeScript + Vercel + GitHub

Features:

• 50+ AI tools across 6 categories (Writing, Image, Productivity, Code, Audio, Video)
• Dynamic tool pages with feature lists and CTA buttons
• Category pages, tool comparison page, blog module
• Dark mode, search, category filtering, save/favorite tools
• Affiliate monetization (Rytr, 30% recurring commission)

Biggest Lessons:

1. Ship first, polish later. My v1 was a single page with 20 tools.
2. SEO matters from day one. Sitemap, robots.txt, meta tags — add them early.
3. Affiliate programs take time. Rejected by AppSumo for "low traffic" — fair for a new site.
4. Build in public. Sharing your journey brings feedback, motivation, and sometimes traffic.

What's next: Adding more blog content (tool comparisons), applying for more affiliate programs, and growing organic traffic.

Would love feedback from the community!

Link: https://useaitools.me

#indiemaker #ai