The AI-first code editor built for rapid full-stack product building and agentic editing.
When to use
Use for building Web, Mobile, and API backends with AI auto-completion, codebase indexing, and multi-file inline edits.
Pricing
Free plan available; Pro at $20/mo
Best practices
- Keep `.cursorrules` in your project root to enforce code style
- Index full codebase for context-aware Symbol references
- Use CMD+K for inline diff edits instead of re-typing boilerplate
Common mistakes
- Accepting code suggestions without reviewing imports
- Not specifying line ranges or target files when editing
Alternatives: VS Code + Copilot · Windsurf · Zed
🧠Claude Code
AI Terminal Agent
Website Anthropic's command-line tool that writes code, runs terminal commands, and manages git repositories.
When to use
Use for complex codebase refactoring, multi-file features, and automated terminal debugging.
Pricing
API key pay-per-use (Claude 3.5 Sonnet)
Best practices
- Give precise instructions and link specific documentation
- Run typecheck after edits to verify compile status
Common mistakes
- Running non-sandboxed commands without verifying cwd
Alternatives: Aider · Cursor Terminal · GitHub Copilot Workspace
Google's mobile and web app development platform providing Auth, Firestore, and Cloud Functions.
When to use
Ideal for fast MVP building, cross-platform mobile sync, and serverless authentication.
Pricing
Generous free Spark plan; pay-as-you-go Blaze plan
Best practices
- Always write strict Firestore Security Rules before going live
- Use modular v10+ SDK imports for bundle optimization
Common mistakes
- Leaving Firestore in test mode with open access
Alternatives: Supabase · AWS Amplify · Appwrite
⚡Supabase
Open Source Firebase Alternative
Website Postgres-based backend platform providing instant Auth, Database, Storage, and Realtime subscriptions.
When to use
Use when your startup requires relational SQL queries, row-level security, and vector embeddings.
Pricing
Free tier; Pro at $25/mo
Best practices
- Enable Row Level Security (RLS) on all public tables
- Use pgvector extension for AI embeddings storage
Common mistakes
- Exposing service_role secret key on frontend client code
Alternatives: Firebase · PlanetScale · Neon
💳Stripe
Payment Infrastructure
Website The gold-standard infrastructure for internet commerce, SaaS subscriptions, and global checkout.
When to use
Use for taking payments, managing recurring SaaS billing, and powering customer portals.
Pricing
2.9% + 30¢ per successful card charge
Best practices
- Use Stripe Checkout & Billing Portal for pre-built UI security
- Listen to Webhooks securely using signature verification
Common mistakes
- Hardcoding secret API keys in client-side code
Alternatives: Paddle · Lemon Squeezy · Braintree
▲Vercel
Frontend Cloud & Hosting
Website The platform for Next.js applications, providing global CDN edge deployment and serverless functions.
When to use
Default hosting platform for Next.js web applications, offering zero-config git deployments.
Pricing
Hobby free; Pro at $20/user/mo
Best practices
- Configure Preview Deployments for GitHub Pull Requests
- Optimize images using next/image and Vercel Analytics
Common mistakes
- Exceeding serverless execution timeouts on heavy tasks
Alternatives: AWS Amplify · Netlify · Cloudflare Pages
The platform for developer collaboration, version control, and automated GitHub Actions workflows.
When to use
Essential for version control, team collaboration, code reviews, and automated CI/CD builds.
Pricing
Free public/private repos; Team at $4/user/mo
Best practices
- Protect main branch requiring PR approval and green checks
- Use GitHub Actions for automated typechecking and linting
Common mistakes
- Committing API secrets or .env files to public git history
Alternatives: GitLab · Bitbucket
Collaborative interface design tool for building wireframes, design systems, and clickable prototypes.
When to use
Use to design web and mobile user interfaces, component libraries, and interactive prototypes.
Pricing
Free tier; Professional at $12/user/mo
Best practices
- Use Auto Layout and Variables for responsive tokenized designs
- Export components directly as SVG or CSS tokens
Common mistakes
- Designing without alignment to responsive flexbox/grid containers
Alternatives: Penpot · Sketch · Adobe XD
Modern email API built for developers, powering transactional emails with React Email templates.
When to use
Use for sending transactional welcome emails, password resets, and user notifications.
Pricing
Free 3,000 emails/mo; Pro at $20/mo
Best practices
- Use React Email components for clean HTML/CSS email templates
- Verify custom domain SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records
Common mistakes
- Sending transactional emails from unverified domain aliases
Alternatives: SendGrid · Postmark · Mailgun
