Being productive as a solo founder is challenging – especially when you're juggling development, marketing, and sales all by yourself. But here's the good news: we're living in an era where AI can be your secret weapon.
I'm sharing my top 5 AI tools that have become essential in my indie-hacking journey. And don't worry – this isn't just about coding. These tools will help you level up your entire workflow.
If you're not a seasoned developer, debugging can be a real pain. Sure, ChatGPT and Claude can give you code snippets, but the real challenge starts when something breaks in your specific setup.
Many of us start with existing boilerplates or open-source solutions, then customize them to fit our needs. That's where Cursor comes in clutch. Built on Visual Studio Code, it's super familiar if you're already using VS Code.
Here's what makes it special:
Let me share a real example. Last week, I was struggling with a React component that kept re-rendering unnecessarily. Instead of spending hours debugging, I highlighted the component and asked Cursor to analyze it. Within seconds, it spotted that I was creating a new object in my dependency array – rookie mistake, right? But here's the cool part: it didn't just point out the issue, it rewrote the component using useMemo and explained why this was a better approach.
Cursor me works best in pair with Claude (next tool on this list), where I keep high-level overview – primarily commercial one – of the project I'm working on.
The free tier gives you plenty to work with, but I went for the Pro version ($20/month) because the multi-file edits and GPT-4 integration are worth every penny for my workflow.
Quick tip: Set up Cursor to use Claude for code explanations and GPT-4 for actual code modifications. I've found this combo works best.
Your business infrastructure is the foundation for all your marketing and sales – from your Unique Value Proposition to understanding your target audience's pain points.
I used ChatGPT for months, but switching to Claude was a game-changer. The quality difference is phenomenal. With the right prompts, Claude's output is practically indistinguishable from human writing.
Here's my actual prompt that gets incredible results:"Act as a brutal startup critic. Analyze this idea: [your idea]. Focus on market size, competition, and potential fatal flaws. Don't sugarcoat anything."
The responses? Ruthlessly honest and surprisingly insightful. Last month, Claude saved me weeks of work by pointing out that my "revolutionary" SaaS idea already had three well-funded competitors I hadn't found in my initial research.
I also use Claude for:
We've all been there – bookmarking countless articles, videos, and tweets, only to never look at them again. Traditional bookmarking tools just don't encourage you to actually consume the content.
Mailist is free so go ahead and give it a try today
That's why I built Mailist. It transforms your bookmarks into a personalized newsletter, delivered weekly or daily to your inbox. Once you read something, it's marked as "read" and won't show up again. But don't worry – everything stays in your account, easily accessible through search and tags.
Mailist has been featured on Product Hunt and is often listed as the best read it later app in many listings!
Let's be honest: meetings can be time-suckers. But when they're necessary, you need to make them count by capturing actionable insights.
Granola (macOS only) has been a lifesaver here. It automatically creates meeting notes and saves them in a shareable format for all participants. No more scrambling to remember what was discussed!
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The real magic happens in how it structures the notes:
Pro tip: Use Granola's keyboard shortcuts to flag important moments during the call. I hit Cmd+Shift+H whenever someone mentions a deadline or commitment. These highlights show up beautifully in the summary.
While not strictly AI-focused, Reclaim is a powerful Google Calendar integration that ensures you maintain healthy work habits.
Here's my actual setup:
The best part? Reclaim flexes these blocks around your meetings automatically. If someone books a morning slot, your deep work time shifts to another available spot.
One game-changing feature: "Habits." I set up habits for things like "Weekly Planning" (2 hours) and "Code Review" (1 hour), and Reclaim finds the best spots for them each week based on my calendar.
Cost: $8/month on the basic plan. Worth it just for the peace of mind of never having back-to-back meetings again.
These tools have transformed how I work as an indie-hacker, helping me stay focused, productive, and sane while juggling multiple responsibilities. They're not just about automation – they're about creating space for actual creative work and strategic thinking.
I started my indie-hacking journey building Mailist. You can give it a try here.
The key? Start small. Pick one tool that addresses your biggest pain point and master it before moving on. I started with Cursor, and it literally paid for itself in the time it saved me during the first week.
Want to chat more about productivity tools or share your own favorites? I'd love to connect! You can find me on X (https://x.com/marcin_knows) or BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/marcinmi.bsky.social). I'm always testing new tools and sharing what works (and what doesn't) in my indie hacker journey.
Remember: the best tool is the one that fits your workflow. Don't get caught up in tool FOMO – focus on what actually makes you more productive. Your future self will thank you!
