How to build your AI App with Cursor, Firebase, Vercel (Full Tutorial)

Greg Isenberg January 17, 2025
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Greg Isenberg

@GregIsenberg

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Subscribe for startup ideas & tutorials on on how to use AI to build & grow your startup. Hey, I’m Greg - CEO of Late Checkout and ex-advisor to Reddit, TikTok, and more. I post videos here from my podcast top 0.1% tech podcast called The Startup Ideas Podcast. You can also listen to The Startup Ideas Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. I keep it practical and never gatekeep the sauce. I share what I'm learning in real-time. Happy building

Video Description

Riley Brown demonstrates how to build a complete AI image generation application using Cursor's Agent feature, showcasing the power of modern AI-assisted development tools. The tutorial covers everything from initial setup to deployment, including integration with Firebase for authentication and storage, and implementation of multiple AI image generation models. The project demonstrates how developers can quickly build full-stack applications with minimal manual coding. Growth guides to turn your startup into a money printer Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/growth-guides Episode Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:23 - Why Cursor 03:43 - Setting Up a Project in Cursor 06:48 - YOLO Mode Discussion 09:39 - Deciding what to build 10:25 - Exploring API Integration 12:54 - Building an AI Image Generator 16:44 - Building, testing and debugging AI Image Generator 38:00 - Enhancing User Interface Design 41:59 - Firebase integration 53:00 - Deploying app using Vercel Link to Mount Cursor image generator: https://rileygregpod4.vercel.app Clone the repo and start the development server in one command: https://github.com/ansh/template-2 Key Points: • Demonstration of building an AI image generator using Cursor's Agent feature • Integration of multiple AI image models (Flux, Ideagram, Stability AI) • Implementation of Firebase authentication and storage • Deployment process using Vercel • Live coding session showing real-world application development: 1) The Ultimate Stack for 2024: • Cursor (AI coding assistant) • Next.js (framework) • Firebase (database) • Vercel (deployment) • Replicate (AI models) Key insight: Cursor's Agent mode is INSANELY good now 2) Step-by-Step Build Process: i) Start with empty folder in Cursor ii) Clone template repo with one command iii) Add AI image generation iv) Connect Firebase v) Deploy to Vercel Time needed: Just 75 minutes! 3) Pro Tips for Working with AI Models: • Use Replicate for easy access to top AI models • Test in Playground before implementing • Always save model parameters • Keep track of API keys • Start in test mode for databases 4) Firebase Setup Simplified: a) Create project b) Enable Authentication c) Set up Storage d) Set billing limits ($20 cap recommended) e) Enable test mode - Key Learning: Test mode first, production rules later! 5) MAJOR INSIGHT: Building with AI is like Legos • Start with basic template • Add features incrementally • Use examples as building blocks • Test & iterate quickly • Learn from failures 6) Deployment Checklist: • GitHub repo setup • Vercel project creation • Environment variables • API keys configuration • Domain authorization 7) Most Common Gotchas: • API key management • Environment variables • Authentication domains • Server restarts • Aspect ratio handling 8) The Future of AI Dev Tools: • Templates getting smarter • Payment integration coming • More automated deployment • Better error handling • Improved documentation TAKEAWAY: You don't need to be a senior dev to build cool stuff with AI anymore. Notable Quotes: "I think of AI coding like Legos, right? You're looking for the pieces that you need to put together." - Riley Brown "I'm never going to claim to be an expert. I am here messing with these tools as are you. I've just been told that I'm pretty good at explaining things." - Riley Brown Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav) Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideas LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/ BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/ Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses [https://www.startupempire.co](https://www.startupempire.co/) FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND RILEY ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/rileybrown_ai Instagram: https://x.com/rileybrown_ai Senior SWC: https://www.seniorswc.com Yapthread: https://app.yapthread.com/

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