A 3-step AI coding workflow for solo founders | Ryan Carson (5x founder)

About this Video

• Video Title: A 3-step AI coding workflow for solo founders | Ryan Carson (5x founder)
• Channel: How I AI
• Speakers: Ryan Carson, Claire
• Duration: 00:34:45

Introduction

This video demonstrates a three-step AI coding workflow for solo founders, presented by five-time founder Ryan Carson. The workflow uses Cursor, an AI-powered coding assistant, along with specific prompting techniques to efficiently create a Product Requirement Document (PRD), generate a task list, and systematically work through the tasks. The video emphasizes the importance of providing sufficient context to the AI for optimal results.

Key Takeaways

• Structured AI Coding Workflow: Ryan Carson outlines a three-step workflow: creating a PRD with Cursor, generating a task list from the PRD, and systematically working through tasks using Cursor's agent mode. This structured approach contrasts with "vibe coding."
• Importance of Context: Providing clear and detailed context to the AI is crucial for successful task completion. The speaker stresses the need for patience and thoroughness in defining the problem and providing relevant information.
• Utilizing Cursor Rules: Pre-written Cursor rules (open-sourced by Carson) streamline the process of generating PRDs and task lists. These rules provide instructions to the AI, ensuring consistent output format and structure.
• Iterative Task Management: The workflow involves iterating through tasks one at a time, marking each subtask complete before proceeding. This granular approach aids in tracking progress and minimizing errors.
• Leveraging MCPs (Multi-Cloud Platforms): Integration with MCPs like BrowserBase and Postgres allows for interaction with other apps directly within Cursor, facilitating tasks such as database queries and front-end testing. This reduces the need for multiple applications.
• Repo Prompt for Precise Context Control: Repo Prompt helps manage the context provided to the AI by allowing selection of specific files and folders. This offers more control over the information presented to the AI compared to relying solely on Cursor's context window.