How I'm Using AI to Build Pagoti

I'm building Pagoti - a markdown-based content and commerce platform built with Laravel. It's eventually going to be positioned as "Content + Commerce without the bloat," targeting users who want elegant solutions for menus, catalogues, and content-driven selling without the complexity of traditional ecommerce platforms. I'm building it solo while working agency hours.

AI has dramatically reduced the cost of writing code, but it hasn't removed the need for judgment. Typing less doesn't mean quality matters less, it just shifts where quality lives.

Web frameworks and stacks have largely matured, so the real work now is in decisions, trade-offs, and system behaviour over time. Vibe-coding works for low-risk prototypes, but anything long-lived or user-facing still demands care.

I'm not running ten agents in parallel or trying to ship features at breakneck speed. I focus on one feature at a time, with quality code still at the heart of the project. In the end, software is still made for humans, and trust is the real output.

How I Work

I primarily use ClaudeCode - integrated directly into my terminal, able to read code, modify files, and run commands within the actual project. When I need strategic thinking or architectural exploration, I switch to the web interface. Every piece of code is reviewed before it's committed. AI accelerates implementation, but I'm still the gatekeeper for what ships.

What I Use It For

I use AI as a technical collaborator for architecture choices - like designing Stripe integration (database vs. live API), basket functionality structure, and payment flow patterns. Before committing to infrastructure decisions, I evaluate options thoroughly - hosting providers, databases, payment architectures. I need pros and cons grounded in real tradeoffs, not marketing material.

AI helps me understand APIs, frameworks, and Laravel patterns - from Stripe integration to queue configurations to QR code generation. When I hit issues (Safari bugs, deployment problems, spam protection), we work through root causes together in real-time. I present my thinking, get perspectives on tradeoffs, and make informed decisions.

The Partnership

I'm not using AI to replace technical judgment - I bring strong Laravel and ecommerce expertise to Pagoti. AI functions as an always-available development partner who helps me think through problems, validate approaches, and maintain momentum on a solo project.

AI helps me build faster and better, but the vision, decisions, and execution of Pagoti remain mine.