How AI Supercharged My Web App Development

As a web developer, I’m always looking for ways to work smarter, not just harder—especially when it comes to building complex web apps with crypto integration. Over the past year, I’ve discovered that AI-powered tools, particularly large language models (LLMs) like Claude and ChatGPT, can be absolute game-changers. They’ve helped me streamline the development process in ways I hadn’t thought possible. Today, I’m excited to share my personal toolkit and workflow for leveraging AI to enhance every stage of web app development, from initial concept to final deployment.

Choosing the right coding assistant is crucial, and for me, Claude has become the backbone of my development process. Don’t get me wrong—ChatGPT is a fantastic tool, especially when you need to brainstorm ideas or work on longer-form content. It’s creative and has a broader context capacity, making it ideal for fleshing out concepts and drafting high-level overviews.

However, when it comes to the nitty-gritty of coding, especially in frameworks like React, Claude outshines ChatGPT. Why? Because Claude isn’t just a coding assistant; it’s a project management powerhouse. It continuously reviews your code in real-time, keeping track of all project settings and updates. This constant oversight allows Claude to provide more accurate and relevant suggestions, particularly when you’re working with the latest libraries. It’s like having a vigilant co-developer who’s always on top of the latest tech trends, ensuring your code is up to date and error-free.

Once I’ve committed to using Claude, the next step is setting up my development environment. Here’s where Cursor comes into play. Cursor is my go-to for slick, real-time auto-completion that makes coding faster and less prone to errors. Even as someone who started with minimal experience in React and TypeScript, I’ve managed to build full-featured web apps by combining the strengths of Claude and Cursor.

Here’s a breakdown of my process:

• Brainstorming with ChatGPT: Before diving into the code, I use ChatGPT to flesh out my ideas. Whether I’m brainstorming features, designing user flows, or drafting out potential components, ChatGPT’s expansive context and creativity are invaluable. It helps me visualize the overall structure of the app and plan the various components I’ll need.

• Building with Claude: Once I have a clear vision, I switch to Claude. I upload all my project files into Claude’s environment, where it continuously monitors and reviews the code as I build. This constant feedback loop is crucial—it’s like having a coding partner who’s always there to catch mistakes, suggest improvements, and ensure that the code adheres to best practices.

• Refreshing the Codebase: After a day of coding, I make it a point to re-upload all my files to Claude. This ensures that Claude always works with the freshest version of my code. It’s a small step, but it makes a big difference in maintaining an up-to-date and consistent codebase, especially when working on large, complex projects.

This iterative process—where I bounce ideas off ChatGPT, build and refine with Claude, and enhance productivity with Cursor—has been a game-changer. But sometimes, even with these powerful tools, you run into issues that require the latest information, particularly when dealing with new libraries or cutting-edge technologies. That’s where Perplexity steps in.

While Claude and ChatGPT are fantastic for development, they do have their limitations—namely, their inability to browse the web in real-time. This can be a problem when you’re working with the newest technologies or encountering issues that require up-to-the-minute solutions. Enter Perplexity.

Perplexity is a tool that fills this gap perfectly. Unlike Claude and ChatGPT, Perplexity can scan the open web in real-time, providing instant access to the latest documentation, tutorials, and community advice. It’s especially useful when you’re trying to resolve issues with new libraries or when you need to implement the latest features that haven’t yet been widely documented. For example, if I’m struggling with integrating a bleeding-edge crypto library, I can turn to Perplexity to get the most recent and relevant advice, saving me from hours of frustrating trial and error.

Once the core structure of the app is in place, it’s time to focus on the user interface—the part that users will interact with and judge your app by. This is where visual design comes into play, and for this, I rely on a combination of Claude and Leonardo AI.

• Asset List Creation: First, I ask Claude to generate a list of all the visual assets I’ll need based on the components and pages we’ve developed. This might include icons, buttons, backgrounds, and other UI elements. Having this list upfront is incredibly useful—it allows me to approach the design phase with a clear plan.

• Designing with Leonardo: With the asset list in hand, I move over to Leonardo AI to create the actual graphics. Leonardo is a powerful design tool that’s both affordable and versatile, making it a great choice for developers who need custom visuals but don’t have the budget for a full-time designer. While I’m still perfecting my workflow, particularly with vector designs, Leonardo has been a solid tool for generating high-quality images that fit seamlessly into my apps.

This approach ensures that the UI is not just functional but also visually appealing, which is crucial for user engagement and retention.

A critical aspect of my workflow is keeping the front-end and back-end development separate, at least in the early stages. By focusing on the front-end first, I can ensure that the user interface is polished and fully functional before I start dealing with back-end integration.

• Front-End Development with Claude: I use Claude to help me focus exclusively on the front-end components initially. This allows me to refine the UI, ensuring that everything from the layout to the interactive elements works perfectly before I move on to the back-end.

• API Integration: Once the front-end is in good shape, I use Claude to draft out the API specifications needed for back-end integration. This is particularly useful if I’m handing off the back-end work to another developer or planning to tackle it myself later. Claude helps me generate clear, concise instructions that make the back-end integration as smooth as possible.

This methodical separation of concerns ensures that each part of the app is developed to its fullest potential without being rushed or compromised.

While Claude is excellent for generating concise, functional code, sometimes those snippets need to be merged and refined into a cohesive whole. This is where ChatGPT comes back into the picture.

• Final Code Review: After I’ve used Claude to develop the various components, I run the final code through ChatGPT for a comprehensive review. ChatGPT’s ability to handle larger contexts and its knack for understanding the overall structure of the code make it perfect for this task. It can identify any inconsistencies, suggest optimizations, and ensure that all the different pieces fit together smoothly.

• Code Merging: ChatGPT is also great for merging code snippets. Because it can maintain a broader context, it’s able to combine different pieces of code in a way that’s both logical and efficient, something that can be tricky when working with shorter, isolated snippets.

This final step is crucial for delivering a polished, bug-free product that’s ready for deployment.

If your app involves crypto or blockchain technology, smart contract development is likely one of the most challenging aspects. Libraries are often outdated, and the code can be notoriously tricky to get right. Here’s how I simplify the process:

• Importing OpenZeppelin Contracts: I start by importing OpenZeppelin’s base contracts into Claude. OpenZeppelin is a well-respected library that provides secure, tested smart contract templates, which serve as a solid foundation for any crypto project.

• Smart Contract Development with Claude: Once the contracts are imported, I use Claude to develop new smart contracts based on the latest typings. This method significantly reduces the time and effort required to create robust, up-to-date contracts. By working with the most current versions of the code, I avoid many of the pitfalls associated with outdated libraries and ensure that my contracts are both secure and functional.

This combination of OpenZeppelin and Claude has been a major time-saver, allowing me to focus on innovation rather than getting bogged down in troubleshooting outdated code.

To sum up, here’s a quick overview of my AI-enhanced toolkit for web and dApp development:

• Claude for in-depth coding and real-time project management: My go-to for writing, reviewing, and refining code with up-to-date best practices.

• ChatGPT for creative ideation, component drafting, and final code review: Perfect for fleshing out ideas and ensuring that all code components merge smoothly.

• Cursor for live auto-completion: Helps speed up the coding process and reduces errors.

• Perplexity for real-time web search: Crucial for resolving issues that require the latest information and bleeding-edge solutions.

• Leonardo for creating custom visuals: A reliable tool for generating high-quality graphics that enhance the user experience.

• OpenZeppelin + Claude for streamlined smart contract development: Simplifies the creation of secure, functional smart contracts.

By mixing and matching these AI tools, even developers new to React or TypeScript can build like seasoned pros. If you’ve discovered your own AI-powered workflows that have boosted your productivity, I’d love to hear about them—share your experiences in the comments!