The Saucy Learning Path
A complete journey from zero to production AI apps. Follow the five phases in order, or jump to what you need.
Every step lives in Saucy Knowledge. Refreshed September 2026.
Foundations
Set up your machine, learn the terminal, and ship your first app.
Start Here
Your First App
From zero to a running Next.js app in one session. Create, style, and add interactivity.
Start GuideSetup Your Workspace
Install Node, Git, and your editor. Configure your machine and get ready to ship.
Start GuideClaude Code Setup
Install Claude Code, connect your editor, learn the key commands, and run your first session.
Start GuideCore Skills
Terminal Basics
Commands you'll actually use. Navigate, create, delete, and talk directly to your computer.
ReadGit & GitHub
Version control, commits, branches, push/pull, and the workflow that makes deployment possible.
ReadNext.js
App Router, Server vs Client Components, caching, proxy.ts, and the confusion points solved.
ReadVercel
Deploys, previews, Fluid Compute, environment variables, and the platform services worth knowing.
ReadBuilding Blocks
Data, auth, and payments: the pieces every real app needs.
Data Layer
Choosing a Database
Neon vs Supabase vs PlanetScale vs the big clouds. Tradeoffs, free tiers, and a decision framework.
ReadDatabase Fundamentals
SQL vs NoSQL, when each shines, Postgres on Neon, framework pairings, and common pitfalls.
ReadConnect Database
Wire up Neon Postgres + Drizzle ORM. Type-safe queries, migrations, and real data.
Start GuideSchema Design
Structuring your data. Tables, columns, relations, and the blueprint for your database.
ReadDrizzle ORM
Type-safe database queries. The translator between TypeScript and SQL.
ReadAuthentication
Authentication
Auth.js vs Clerk vs Better Auth vs Supabase Auth. Login flows, OAuth, sessions, and security basics.
ReadThe OAuth Trap
Why login works locally but fails in production. The 5-part setup every vibe coder misses.
Start GuideProtected Routes
Keep pages secure. proxy.ts, server-side checks, redirects, and the bouncer pattern.
Start GuideOAuth Providers
Google, GitHub, Apple, X, Microsoft, and more. Pros, cons, and setup steps.
Start GuidePayments
Payments & Stripe
Accept payments, subscriptions, webhooks, and monetize your app with Stripe.
Start GuideSubscriptions
Recurring revenue with Stripe. Plans, trials, upgrades, and the gym membership model.
Start GuideWebhooks
Real-time payment events. The doorbell pattern for when Stripe needs to talk.
Start GuideAI Enhancement
Agentic coding with Claude Code, and building AI features into your own apps.
Claude Code
Claude Code PRO Tips
Sessions, memory, compaction, permissions, and the habits that separate pros from dabblers.
Start GuidePlan Mode
Think first, code second. Claude's read-only planning mode and the permission modes around it.
Start GuideModel Context Protocol (MCP)
Connect Claude to your tools. Local and remote servers, scopes, auth, and what's worth installing.
ReadClaude Agents & Skills
Subagents for isolated tasks, Skills for repeatable workflows. Create your own or use built-ins.
ReadAgents vs Skills
When to reach for a subagent, a skill, a hook, or a plugin. A decision framework for power users.
ReadClaude Skills Ecosystem
Skills across Claude Code, the Claude apps, and the API. How they load and how to share them.
ReadAgentic Coding
Context Engineering
The skill that replaced prompt engineering. What goes in the context window, what stays out, and why.
ReadClaude Code Plugins
Install, build, and share bundles of skills, agents, hooks, and MCP servers through marketplaces.
Start GuideHooks & Automation
Run your own code at every step of Claude's loop. Auto-format, block risky commands, notify, and gate.
Start GuideParallel Agents & Worktrees
Run several Claude sessions at once without collisions. Subagents, git worktrees, and fan-out patterns.
Start GuideBackground & Cloud Agents
Hand off work that runs while you're away: headless mode, cloud sessions, scheduled routines, and CI.
ReadEvals & Guardrails
How to know your AI feature actually works: test sets, LLM-as-judge, and guardrails that catch failures.
ReadBuilding AI Apps
AI SDK + AI Gateway
Add AI to your Next.js app. Streaming chat, one API for every model, fallbacks, and spend control.
Start GuideStructured Outputs & Tool Use
Get JSON you can trust and let models call your functions. Schemas, tools, and agent loops.
Start GuideDurable Agents
Agents that survive crashes and wait for days. Workflows, queues, and sandboxes for long-running AI.
ReadPrompt Caching & Cost Control
Stop paying full price for the same tokens. Caching, model routing, budgets, and usage tracking.
Start GuidePrompt Injection & AI Security
The #1 risk in AI apps. How injection works, why it's hard, and the defenses that actually help.
ReadTools & Prompting
AI Tools for Vibe Coding
Claude Code vs Cursor vs Copilot vs Codex vs Antigravity. The 2026 tool landscape and how to choose.
ReadPrompting
Get better AI results. Be specific, give context, show examples, iterate.
Start GuideGoogle Antigravity
Google's agent-first IDE. Agent manager, browser control, artifacts, and when to use it.
Start GuideProduction & Compliance
Go live safely: env vars, domains, launch checklists, and privacy law.
Going Live
Environment Variables
Secrets management. Keep API keys safe and configure different environments.
Start GuideDomain & DNS
Buy a domain, configure DNS, connect to Vercel, and get HTTPS working.
Start GuideDeployment Checklist
Pre-launch essentials: env vars, database, domain, security, observability, and more.
ReadLegal & Compliance
Alternative Paths
Other clouds, other languages, and native mobile.