Here is the exact indie-hacking vibe-coding setup I use as a middle-aged product manager
After a period of burnout, I decided to restart my path as a developer and find a way of working that combined discipline, creativity, and joy. The result was an AI-powered setup that helps me overcome procrastination and regain confidence without unnecessary complexity.
My main stack is vanilla Rails 8 for the backend and a lightweight frontend, accompanied by budget-friendly infrastructure. To edit and navigate the code, I use Cursor IDE and AI plugins based on Opus and Sonnet models that act as copilots: they suggest refactorings, detect common errors, and help maintain focus. This approach allows for fast iteration while keeping the codebase understandable and sustainable.
The key philosophy is simple: understand the code before relying on automation. I use AI agents for repetitive tasks, small scripts, and workflows that automate cheap deployments on AWS and Azure cloud services, basic monitoring, and backups. For metrics and analytics, I turn to Power BI and business intelligence services that connect with the application to make data-driven decisions.
Practical tips that have worked for me: keep the project as simple as possible, document the essentials so decisions aren't forgotten, dedicate time to tinkering to improve skills and have fun, and don't obsess over launching a startup right away. The goal is to learn, produce quality software, and enjoy the process.
At Q2BSTUDIO, we specialize in developing custom applications and custom software tailored to real needs. We offer artificial intelligence and AI services for businesses, custom AI agents, Power BI and business intelligence services to turn data into decisions, as well as comprehensive cybersecurity and deployments on AWS and Azure cloud services to ensure availability and scalability.
If you're looking to implement a similar setup or need professional support, Q2BSTUDIO can help design architectures with Rails 8 or alternative stacks, integrate AI models like Opus and Sonnet, develop secure and scalable custom applications, and offer cybersecurity services and business intelligence services. Our approach combines efficiency, cost control, and best practices in development.
Practical summary: use a simple stack like vanilla Rails 8, integrate AI Copilots in Cursor IDE to maintain productivity, automate cost-effective deployments on AWS and Azure cloud services, protect with real cybersecurity, and communicate results with Power BI. For complex projects, trust experts in custom applications and custom software like Q2BSTUDIO, who also provide artificial intelligence solutions, AI for businesses, and AI agents tailored to your business.
