TIER 1
/clear between tasks
Wipe conversation history between unrelated tasks. Message 30 costs 31x more than message 1 because Claude rereads the whole conversation every time.
Vibe
coding
A beginner's guide
How I built a real app without writing every line of code
From zero to the App Store using AI-powered development.
Visit decksense.app
What even is vibe coding?
Using AI tools to build real software by describing what you want, instead of writing every single line yourself.
What it is
- Describe outcomes; AI drafts structure and boilerplate
- You review, run, and refine in a tight loop
- You own product decisions and integration choices
What it is not
- Not hands-off: quality still needs your judgment
- Not a license to skip testing or security basics
- Not instant: real bugs and edge cases still show up
Why it works
- Models excel at repetition, scaffolding, and refactors
- Faster cycles mean more experiments per week
- You learn structure by steering working code
The tools you need
You only need a few things to get started, and most are free.
Cursor AI
IDE + pair programmer
Edit code, chat in context, and apply multi-file changes quickly.
Claude
Reasoning + long context
Plan features, debug errors, and draft specs or prompts.
Expo / React Native
Cross-platform shell
One codebase for iOS and Android with sane defaults.
Firebase
Auth + data + hosting
Backends for login, sync, and serverless glue without running servers.
My project: DeckSense
A competitive Pokemon TCG app, live on the App Store.
Deck builder
Build legal lists fast with search, staples, and export.
Meta analysis
See what wins regionals and how archetypes trend.
Card pricing
Raw and graded signals to support trades and buys.
AI suggestions
Practical tweaks based on your list and format.
Find tournaments
Discover events and stay close to the competitive scene.
How the process actually works
It is less like programming and more like managing a very fast intern.
01
Have an idea
Start small: one screen, one flow, one measurable outcome.
02
Describe it to AI
Write prompts like specs: inputs, outputs, constraints, and examples.
03
Run the code
Build, run on device or simulator, and collect real error messages.
04
Fix and repeat
Tighten requirements, add tests where it matters, and iterate.
Claude Code: Working Smarter
Most people burn through their token limit because of bad habits, not because they need a bigger plan.
TIER 1
Use .claudeignore
Exclude node_modules, dist, build, and log folders. If Claude cannot see it, it cannot accidentally read it or bill you for it.
TIER 1
Ask for the answer, not the explanation
Add "just give me the code, no explanation" to your prompts. A concise response can use 60-70% fewer tokens than a fully explained one.
TIER 2
/compact proactively
Run /compact after each completed feature, not when Claude warns you. Compacting on a bloated context generates a worse summary.
TIER 2
Keep CLAUDE.md lean
It gets read on every single message, not just every session. Keep it under 200 lines. Cut anything that does not change how Claude behaves.
TIER 2
Disconnect unused MCP servers
Each connected MCP server adds roughly 18,000 tokens per message silently. Run /context at the start of each session and disconnect what you are not using.
TIER 3
Spawn sub-agents for multi-file tasks
If a task needs 3 or more files analyzed, spawn a sub-agent and only return summarized insights back to your main session.
TIER 3
Reference files explicitly
Instead of "find where we handle auth," say "check src/auth/middleware.ts, specifically validateToken." Vague exploration triggers multi-file reads.
TIER 3
Rate limits are rolling, not daily
Your quota does not reset at midnight. It is a rolling window. Tokens you used 5 hours ago start becoming available again, so plan your heavy sessions accordingly.
BONUS: CODE FROM ANYWHERE
How to Code From Your Phone
Claude Code runs in your terminal. If you can access your terminal remotely, you can code from anywhere, including your phone.
01
Install Claude Code
Open your terminal and run: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code then run claude to authenticate. Claude Code lives in your terminal and connects directly to Anthropic's API. No separate app needed.
TERMINAL
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code claude
02
Access From Anywhere
Use a tool like SSH, Termius, or Tailscale to connect to your computer remotely from your phone. Once connected, you are in your actual terminal, and Claude Code works exactly the same way it does on your laptop.
Tailscale is the easiest option: it creates a private network between your devices. Free tier is enough. Install it on your computer and phone, then SSH in using your machine's Tailscale IP.
03
Claude Code Remote Control
Anthropic built a Remote Control feature into Claude Code specifically for mobile use. Activate it in your Claude Code session with /rc. It opens a web interface you can control from any browser, including Safari on your phone.
This is how DeckSense was built away from the desk. Start a task on your laptop, then pick it up on your phone during a commute or between classes.
A real example
CURSOR PROMPT
Build a "Meta Decks" screen for my Expo app. Fetch GET /api/meta/analysis?range=30d. Show a scrollable list sorted by usage: deck name, usage %, win rate, and up to 3 tags per row. Use my existing dark theme and loading/error states. No new dependencies.
Full working screen
Live tournament data
Sorted by usage
Done in roughly 15 minutes
What you learn (even without writing code)
Vibe coding is not a shortcut, it is a different path to the same skills.
How apps are structured
Screens, navigation, state, and data flow start to click.
How to debug
You read stack traces, logs, and repro steps like a builder.
How to think like a developer
You break problems into smaller, testable pieces.
How to ask good questions
Clear prompts and constraints get better answers.
How to ship
You learn versioning, builds, and what good enough means.
What real products need
Auth, errors, empty states, and performance are part of the job.
Challenges and honest takeaways
It is not all smooth sailing. Here is what actually trips people up.
Hard
Context limits and drift
Long projects need discipline: summaries, files, and checkpoints.
Real talk
Overconfidence on first draft
Generated code looks done before it is verified end to end.
Lesson
Unknown unknowns
You still discover platform quirks, APIs, and store rules the hard way.
Hard
Security and secrets
Keys belong out of the client; reviews catch mistakes late if you rush.
Real talk
Design debt
Fast UI stacks up; polish takes intentional passes.
Lesson
Shipping beats perfect
Small releases teach you more than endless refactors.
How to get started this week
Three concrete steps. No excuses.
Step 1
Install the toolchain
- Install Cursor
- Create a free Expo project
- Run it in the simulator
Step 2
Build one tiny feature
- Pick a screen you can finish in one sitting
- Prompt for UI + data shape first
- Ship a screenshot, not a novel
Step 3
Publish a build
- Use EAS or your host of choice
- Fix the first real crash you see
- Note what you would prompt next time
Go Further: Get Certified
Anthropic launched its first official technical certification in March 2026. If you are serious about building with AI, this is the credential that validates it.
Claude Certified Architect: Foundations (CCA)
FORMAT
60 scenario-based questions, 120 minutes, proctored
COST
Free for the first 5,000 Partner Network members, then $99 per attempt
LAUNCHED
March 12, 2026. Anthropic's first official technical credential
This is not a trivia quiz about API parameter names. Every question drops you into a real production scenario and asks you to make the right architectural call. Agentic loops, multi-agent orchestration, MCP tool integration: the depth is real.
What the Exam Tests
How to Prepare
STEP 1
Anthropic Academy (Free)
13 free self-paced courses on Skilljar: no paywall, no subscription. Start with Claude 101 and AI Fluency, then move to Building with the Claude API (8.1 hours; this is the core material). Finish with the MCP and Claude Code courses.
STEP 2
Join the Claude Partner Network
The certification is currently available through the Claude Partner Network, which any organization can join for free. The first 5,000 partner employees get access at no cost. Joining also gets you early access to every new certification tier as Anthropic releases them through 2026.
STEP 3
Build Production Projects
The exam tests real architecture decisions, not memorized facts. Candidates who have built actual agentic systems, worked with MCP integrations, and shipped Claude Code workflows have a significant advantage. Building DeckSense is exactly the kind of experience that prepares you for this exam.
Why This Matters for Vibe Coders
Building DeckSense using Claude Code, Cursor, and Expo Router already covers Domain 3 (Claude Code) and Domain 4 (Prompt Engineering) of the exam in practice. If you go on to wire up MCP servers, design agentic suggestion pipelines, or build multi-agent workflows, you are covering Domains 1 and 2 as well. The certification is the official way to prove that work means something.
30,000+
Accenture professionals being trained on Claude
350,000
Cognizant employees with Claude access globally
$100M
Anthropic's 2026 investment in partner training
You don't need to know how to code.
You just need to know what you want to build.
Check out DeckSense at decksense.app
Questions?
DeckSense