Everything You Need to Know About Working with HashBuilds

Claude Code is an AI-powered development tool by Anthropic that accelerates software development. I use it to build production-ready applications 10x faster than traditional coding. It handles boilerplate code, pattern implementation, and routine tasks, while I provide architecture design, strategic decisions, and quality oversight. This combination means I can deliver in 7 days what used to take 6+ weeks.

Yes, when properly reviewed and structured. I don't just accept AI output blindly—I architect the system, guide the implementation, review all code for security vulnerabilities, and test thoroughly. The tech stack (Next.js, TypeScript, Postgres, Prisma) is battle-tested across 80+ projects. Think of Claude Code as an extremely fast junior developer, with me as the senior architect ensuring quality and security.

Three key differences: (1) I've built 80+ Next.js applications over 10+ years, so I bring architectural expertise AI alone can't provide. (2) I create systematic context files (BUSINESS-CONTEXT.md, ARCHITECTURE.md, USER-PERSONAS.md) that make future iterations faster—your codebase becomes more maintainable, not less. (3) I teach you how to use Claude Code yourself, so you're not dependent on me for every small change.

Three tiers: $500 USD for a landing page (24 hours), $3,000 USD for a 1-Week MVP Sprint (7 days, production-ready application), or $10,000 USD for a 1-Month Build (30 days, enterprise-grade with full context system). What cost $30,000+ in 2023 now costs $3k-$10k with AI-powered development. Fractional CTO services start at $3,000 USD/month for 10-15 hours/week.

Production-ready applications with: custom authentication (signup, login, password reset, email verification, role-based permissions), database (Postgres/MongoDB with Prisma ORM), payment integration (Stripe or PayPal with webhooks), admin dashboard, responsive design (Tailwind CSS), email system (transactional emails), SEO foundation, and your core feature set. Examples: two-sided marketplaces (FarmDeed), SaaS dashboards (TeamOura), booking systems, lead generation tools (Furnace Replacement Regina), e-commerce stores (ChemPro). See full list of 1-Week MVP capabilities in services/1-week-mvp page.

Complex features that would dilute MVP focus: advanced analytics dashboards, multiple language support, complex workflow automation, AI/ML features beyond basic API integrations, real-time collaboration (though basic WebSocket is possible), advanced search (Elasticsearch/Algolia), extensive third-party integrations, mobile apps (web-only). If your idea requires these, consider the $10k 1-Month Build or we can scope down to MVP essentials.

The $10k 1-Month Build isn't just 'bigger'—it includes: (1) Advanced features (complex permissions, sophisticated workflows, advanced analytics), (2) Claude Code optimization with complete context files (BUSINESS-CONTEXT.md, USER-PERSONAS.md, ARCHITECTURE.md, WORKFLOWS.md, GROWTH-STRATEGY.md), (3) Testing suite (unit, integration, E2E), (4) 2 weeks post-launch support with team training, (5) White-glove onboarding showing you how to use Claude Code yourself. Your business becomes 'AI-native' where future iterations compound in speed.

You own 100% of the code. Full source code delivered via GitHub with no restrictions. You can maintain it yourself, hire another developer, or come back to me for additional work. No vendor lock-in, no proprietary platforms, no hidden licensing fees. Production-grade Next.js/React code that any senior developer can work with.

For 1-Week MVPs: Bug fixes within 14 days of launch are included. For 1-Month Builds: 2 weeks post-launch support included. After that, you own the code and can make changes yourself, hire another developer, or hire me for hourly work ($150 USD/hour) or another sprint. The context files I create make it easy for any developer (or you with Claude Code) to make changes.

I provide part-time technical leadership for startups who need senior guidance but can't afford a $250k/year full-time CTO. Core services: (1) Technical strategy and product roadmap, (2) Architecture design and tech stack decisions, (3) Team leadership (manage developers, code reviews, hiring), (4) AI workflow implementation (transform manual processes into automated systems), (5) Client-facing technical sales (join sales calls, scope custom solutions), (6) Next.js migrations and programmatic SEO systems. I'm not just a strategist—I write production code and ship features.

Five models: (1) 1-Week Sprint: $3,000 USD for single feature/tool/migration. (2) 1-Month Sprint: $10,000 USD for MVP launch or major project. (3) Part-Time Retainer: $3,000 USD/month for 10-15 hrs/week strategy and architecture. (4) Forward Deployed Engineering: $5,000 USD/month for 10+ hrs/week embedded/on-site work. (5) Hourly/Contract-to-Hire: $150 USD/hour for trial engagements. Pricing reflects type of thinking required—routine execution vs cross-functional strategic work.

Agencies have organizational overhead, junior developers, and handoff friction. I'm a senior builder with CTO-level thinking at developer execution speed. I ship production code myself (not delegate to juniors), join client calls to close technical sales, and make strategic decisions without needing approval chains. Plus, I teach your team to fish—building capacity, not dependency. Most Fractional CTOs are pure strategists who don't code; I do both.

Absolutely. I lead, review, unblock decisions, and establish coding standards without creating bottlenecks. I've managed teams at Crowdpass (simultaneous dev team management + client sales + product launches), guided developers at HonestDoor (14M pages indexed), and collaborated on enterprise customizations at Smedia. I build capacity in your team rather than making them dependent on me.

1-Day MVP: 24 hours start-to-finish after kickoff. 1-Week MVP: 7 calendar days (Day 0 kickoff, Day 7 launch). 1-Month Build: 30 calendar days + 2 weeks post-launch support. These are real timelines, not estimates. I start with discovery (1-hour kickoff call to align on scope), create GitHub repo immediately with auto-deployment, and have you live in production by the final day—not 'beta' or 'staging', but deployed with real users.

Within 24 hours for initial contact. First conversation is always exploratory—no commitment required. I'll assess if your project fits my expertise and timeline, give honest feedback on scope, and propose next steps. If I can't deliver what you need, I'll tell you upfront. I won't take your money if I can't deliver.

For 1-Week or 1-Month projects: (1) Clear problem statement (what user problem are you solving?), (2) Target users (who is this for?), (3) Core workflow (what's the main thing users do?), (4) Success criteria (what does MVP success look like?). I guide you through this in the kickoff call using my Sniff Test Framework. For design, choose from 56+ aesthetic patterns (Brutalism, Glassmorphism, Y2K, etc.) or provide Figma/brand guidelines. No technical knowledge required from you.

For 1-Week MVPs: Typically 1-2 at a time to maintain quality and speed. For Fractional CTO: Yes, that's the model—part-time with multiple clients (10-20 hrs/week each). For 1-Month Builds: Usually one at a time given depth of engagement. Contact me to discuss current availability and lead time.

Default stack: Next.js 14+ (App Router), TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Postgres or MongoDB, Prisma ORM, Vercel hosting, Stripe/PayPal payments, SendGrid/Resend email, Vercel/Google Analytics. This stack is battle-tested across 80+ projects, proven scalable, well-documented, and built for AI-assisted development. It scales from MVP to millions of users and lets me iterate 10x faster than older frameworks.

Next.js is my specialty (10+ years React, 80+ Next.js builds since version 1), but I'm flexible for good reasons. If your team is on a different stack or you have strong preferences, we can discuss. However, for pure speed and AI-assisted development, Next.js + TypeScript is unmatched. That's where my 10x advantage comes from.

I'm opinionated but flexible. Default: Postgres for relational data (most MVPs), MongoDB for document-heavy use cases. Prisma ORM for type-safety and developer experience. Vercel for hosting (automatic deployments from GitHub, serverless, scales automatically). If you have existing infrastructure or strong preferences, I'll adapt. For 1-Month Builds, we document these decisions in ARCHITECTURE.md so future developers understand the 'why'.

Primary: Claude Code (Anthropic) for development. Secondary: Claude API for backend AI features, OpenAI GPT-4 for specific use cases, Cursor AI for code editing, v0.dev for UI component generation. I'm tool-agnostic—I use whatever gets the best result fastest. The skill is knowing when to use AI vs when to code manually, and how to architect systems that AI can maintain.

No—I work with both technical and non-technical founders. Technical founders hire me for speed and design sense (they can code but lack bandwidth or frontend skills). Non-technical founders hire me for full development (they have domain expertise and validated problems but can't code). Both get the same quality product. I explain technical decisions in business terms, not jargon.

Pre-PMF (product-market fit): Most clients are pre-seed to seed stage, validating ideas with MVPs. PMF-to-growth: Fractional CTO clients at 10k-100k users needing technical leadership for scaling. I'm less ideal for: Pre-idea (need to validate problem first—use my Sniff Test tool), Late stage (Series B+, need full-time exec team), Enterprise (need agency with large team).

I'm industry-agnostic (B2C, B2B, B2B2C) but avoid: highly regulated industries requiring compliance expertise (healthcare/HIPAA, fintech, legal tech—I can build the app but you need compliance experts), adult content, gambling platforms, anything requiring specialized domain knowledge I don't have. I'll tell you upfront if your industry isn't a fit.

Globally, remote-first. I'm based in Saskatchewan, Canada but work with clients in US, Europe, and Asia. All communication is async-first (Slack, email, Notion) with scheduled sync calls. Time zones haven't been an issue—I'm flexible with meeting times. For Forward Deployed Engineering (on-site Fractional CTO), I can travel within North America.

Yes, with two caveats: (1) I focus on core user flow, not nice-to-haves. MVP means minimum viable—we ruthlessly cut features that don't validate the core hypothesis. (2) AI handles boilerplate; I handle architecture. What used to take 4-6 weeks of manual coding now takes 7 days with Claude Code. I've delivered 80+ Next.js projects this way. Recent examples: FarmDeed (agricultural marketplace), TeamOura (team management SaaS), Furnace Replacement Regina (lead gen system)—all live in production.

I'll tell you upfront in the discovery call. Two options: (1) Scope down to MVP essentials (cut features, simplify workflows, focus on one core flow). (2) Move to $10k 1-Month Build for complex features. I won't take your money if I can't deliver. My job is honest assessment, not overselling.

Yes. Choose from 56+ aesthetic patterns I've documented (Brutalism, Glassmorphism, Neubrutalism, Y2K, Swiss Design, etc.). Each has distinct visual language—you pick the vibe, I implement it with Tailwind CSS. Or provide Figma designs / brand guidelines. You get professional design without hiring a designer. Examples on hashbuilds.com/patterns.

Start with my Sniff Test Framework (free tool on hashbuilds.com/what-is-a-sniff-test). It validates if your idea has distribution potential before building. Then we do discovery: I ask questions about user problems, workflows, and success metrics. I've done this 80+ times—I'll guide you from vague idea to concrete MVP scope. First conversation is always exploratory, no commitment.

Two protections: (1) I sign NDAs for clients who request them (instant NDA service at hashbuilds.com/instant-nda generates pre-signed agreements). (2) I have 10+ years of successful projects and reputation to protect—stealing ideas would destroy my business. Most ideas fail on execution, not concept. I'm focused on building your vision, not copying it.

A separate service that generates pre-signed Non-Disclosure Agreements in under 2 minutes. You fill out a form with your details and project description, and receive a legally binding NDA document within 24 hours via email. It's already signed by me (HashBuilds), so you just need to sign and return. Designed for initial consultations where you want confidentiality protection before sharing sensitive details.

Yes, it's a legally binding confidentiality agreement covering: trade secrets, business plans, technical specifications, user data, proprietary algorithms, financial information, and marketing strategies. Standard terms include 3-year duration (customizable), permitted disclosures clause, return of materials requirement, and governing law provisions. It's designed specifically for software development consultations.

Use NDA when: (1) Your software concept is unique/unproven and could be copied. (2) I need access to customer data, financial info, or trade secrets. (3) We're working together for the first time. (4) Investors/partners require proof of developer confidentiality. Skip NDA when: Your idea is common (most marketplace/SaaS concepts are), you're just exploring if I'm a fit (initial conversation), or you're sharing publicly available information. Most ideas fail on execution, not concept—NDA protects legitimately sensitive information.

Three options: (1) Email me directly: john@hashbuilds.com with brief description of your project. (2) Fill out contact form on homepage or service pages. (3) For Fractional CTO inquiries, use the detailed intake form at hashbuilds.com/fractional-cto. I respond within 24 hours. First conversation is always exploratory—I assess if your project fits, give honest feedback on scope, and propose next steps. No commitment or payment required for initial call.

Yes, 100% upfront for fixed-price projects ($500 landing page, $3k 1-Week MVP, $10k 1-Month Build). This ensures both parties are committed and eliminates payment friction mid-project. For Fractional CTO retainers, first month upfront, then monthly billing. For hourly work, payment upon completion or milestone-based for larger scopes.

I'll tell you honestly in the first conversation. Common reasons we might not fit: (1) Your timeline is too aggressive even for my pace (need it tomorrow). (2) Your scope is too vague (no clear problem/user). (3) Your industry requires compliance expertise I don't have. (4) Your budget doesn't match scope (can't build Uber for $3k). I'd rather decline upfront than disappoint later. If we're not a fit, I'll suggest alternatives (other consultants, agencies, no-code tools, etc.).