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Overview

AI-first development treats AI as your primary development partner, not just a code completion tool. This guide covers the core workflow patterns that make crypto development faster and more effective. Prerequisites: Complete AI Development Setup first.

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General workflow

Work in short cycles: Explore → Scaffold → Build → Refine
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1. Explore

Start with high-level questions to understand the problem space:
"I want to build [crypto app type]. What are the key technical decisions I need to make for CDP integration?"
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2. Scaffold

Generate foundational code structure:
"Create a Next.js app with CDP embedded wallets for [specific use case]. Include TypeScript types and error handling."
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3. Build

Add features iteratively with context:
"Add [feature] to my existing component: [paste code]. Ensure it integrates with my current patterns."
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4. Refine

Debug, optimize, and polish:
"Review this code for security issues: [paste code]. Focus on wallet security and transaction safety."

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Quick example

Goal: Add wallet connection 
Explore: "I need wallet connection for my CDP app. What's the best approach?"
Scaffold: "Create a wallet connection component using OnchainKit with error handling"
Build: "Here's my app: [paste]. How do I integrate this component?"
Refine: "The connection works but feels slow. How can I improve the UX?"

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Enhanced workflow: Spec-driven development

If you’re new to crypto development or using AI, you might be tempted to just start asking AI to “build me a DeFi app” and see what happens. This “vibe coding” approach can work for simple experiments, but it often leads to confusing, hard-to-debug code that doesn’t actually solve your problem. Spec-driven development gives you a structured way to turn your crypto app ideas into working code. Instead of hoping the AI guesses what you want, you guide it through a clear process your agent can follow reliably.

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Why use specs

  • Prevents overwhelming complexity: Without a spec, AI might build a complex DeFi protocol when you just wanted a simple token swap
  • Teaches you crypto concepts: Writing specs forces you to understand wallets, networks, and transactions before coding
  • Creates maintainable code: Structured planning leads to code you can actually understand and modify later
  • Reduces debugging time: Clear requirements mean fewer “why doesn’t this work?” moments

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Process and tools

Follow these four steps to transform vague crypto ideas into working applications:
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1. Write your app specification

Start by clearly describing what you want to build and why. You don’t need to go too far into the details, but you should provide a good understanding of the app you want to build:
"Write a detailed specification for a simple crypto tip jar app:

Purpose: Let content creators receive crypto tips from fans
Target users: Streamers and bloggers who are new to crypto
Core features:
- Generate a unique tip page with QR code
- Accept USDC tips on Base network  
- Show tip history and total earnings
- Send email notifications for new tips

User experience:
- Creator signs up with email (no crypto knowledge needed)
- Embedded wallet handles all crypto complexity
- Fans can tip with credit card or existing wallet
- Creator can withdraw to bank account or keep in crypto

Success criteria:
- Creator can set up tip page in under 2 minutes
- Fans can send tips without owning crypto
- 99% uptime for tip processing"
Helpful tools for this step:
  • Claude - Excellent at creating detailed, well-structured specifications
  • GitBook - If you want collaborative spec writing with your team
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2. Get a technical architecture plan

Ask AI to design the technical structure based on your spec:
"Based on this tip jar specification, create a detailed technical architecture plan.

Consider these requirements:
- Must use CDP embedded wallets for easy onboarding
- Should work on Base network for low fees
- Needs to handle both crypto and credit card payments
- Must be beginner-friendly for creators

Please include:
- Recommended frontend framework and why
- Database design for users and transactions
- Payment processing architecture
- Component breakdown with responsibilities
- Security considerations and best practices
- Integration points with CDP services

Focus on a simple, maintainable architecture that a beginner developer can understand and implement."
Helpful tools for this step:
  • ChatGPT - Great at architectural planning and explaining technical decisions
  • Cursor - AI-first editor that can help refine architecture with CDP context
  • CDP MCP Server - Gives AI direct access to CDP documentation for accurate architecture suggestions
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3. Get a development task list

Ask AI to break the architecture into specific, manageable tasks:
"Based on this tip jar architecture, create a prioritized development task list for a beginner developer.

Break it into 3 phases over 3 weeks, with 4 tasks per phase. Each task should take 2-4 hours to complete.

For each task, include:
- Clear task description and goal
- Specific code files to create or modify
- Testing steps to verify it works
- Common issues beginners might face
- Dependencies on other tasks

Start with basic setup, then core functionality, then user experience improvements."
Helpful tools for this step:
  • Spec Kit - Specifically designed to break specs into actionable tasks
  • Linear - Perfect for organizing and tracking AI-generated task breakdowns
  • Height - Automatically organizes tasks with dependencies and estimates
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4. Implement with guided prompts

Use the task list to create focused implementation requests:
"Implement Task 1.2: Configure CDP SDK and embedded wallets

Project context: Crypto tip jar app for content creators
Current progress: Next.js project is set up
This task goal: Enable creators to connect wallets easily

Requirements from spec:
- Embedded wallets for users new to crypto
- Base network for low transaction fees
- Simple connection flow (no complex wallet setup)

Technical constraints from architecture:
- Use CDP Web SDK
- Store wallet addresses in our database
- Handle connection errors gracefully

Expected outcome:
- Creator can connect wallet in 2 clicks
- App stores wallet address for future tips
- Clear error messages if connection fails

Please provide:
1. Complete code for wallet connection component
2. Error handling for common connection issues
3. Instructions for testing the connection flow"
Helpful tools for this step:
  • Cursor - AI-first editor perfect for implementing with full project context
  • GitHub Copilot - Excellent code completion for implementing specific tasks
  • Replit - Cloud environment great for quick prototyping and testing
  • ngrok - Create secure tunnels to test your crypto app on mobile devices and share with others

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When to use each approach

Now that you understand both the general workflow and spec-driven development, here’s how to choose the right approach for your situation: Use spec-driven development for:
  • Your first crypto application - The structure helps you learn concepts properly
  • Apps handling real money or user funds - Detailed planning prevents costly security mistakes
  • Multi-feature applications - Specs keep complex projects organized and maintainable
  • Team projects - Clear specifications help everyone understand the system
  • Learning projects - Forces you to understand each component before building it
Use the lighter general workflow for:
  • Quick experiments with new CDP features or proof-of-concepts
  • Simple UI changes or styling updates to existing apps
  • Bug fixes where the problem and solution are already clear
  • Prototyping ideas before committing to full specifications

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Structured vs. freeform

There’s a spectrum between highly structured specification-driven development and more flexible, exploratory coding approaches. For crypto development, structured specs provide important benefits: Vibe coding issues:
  • AI assumes you understand crypto concepts you might not know yet
  • Code becomes hard to debug when transactions fail
  • Security issues from incomplete understanding of wallet interactions
  • Feature creep leads to overwhelming complexity
Spec-driven benefits for beginners:
  • Forces you to learn crypto concepts before implementing them
  • Creates code you can understand and modify
  • Prevents common security mistakes through structured planning
  • Builds confidence through clear, achievable milestones

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Best practices

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Always validate AI code

"Review this code for:
- Security vulnerabilities
- Performance issues
- Integration problems"

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Build incrementally

Start simple, add complexity gradually. Don’t try to build everything at once.

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Maintain context

Reference previous conversations: “Based on our discussion about [feature], now help me add [next part]“

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Example workflows

  • Adding a new feature: Explore → Design → Implement → Integrate → Test
  • Fixing a bug: Isolate → Analyze → Fix → Prevent
  • Optimizing performance: Analyze → Identify bottlenecks → Optimize → Validate
Start with the specialized technique most relevant to your current need: