Discover the best AI tools solo developers use to build faster, code smarter, and ship weekly products. Real insights from indie builder workflows.
The game has changed for solo developers.
You don't need a full team to build and ship a product anymore. You don't need to waste weeks on repetitive coding or content creation. You just need AI tools tailored to your solo workflow and the discipline to ship regularly.
That's exactly what Built This Week is all about. Every week, Sam and Jordan test real AI tools in real builds, showing you what actually works for indie hackers and solo devs trying to move fast.
Here's a list of the solo developer AI tools that make shipping faster and smarter.
What it replaces: Manual boilerplate coding and debugging
GitHub Copilot uses OpenAI’s Codex to autocomplete lines and suggest entire functions as you code. It’s like having a pair programmer who never sleeps.
Why we use it: It slashes coding time by helping solo devs write cleaner, error-free code faster. On Built This Week, Sam used Copilot to build a complex Next.js feature in under a day.
What it replaces: Writer’s block, manual content ideation, customer support scripts
ChatGPT Plus powers fast natural language generation, making onboarding emails, landing page copy, and even help desk scripts in seconds.
Why we use it: It removes the copywriting bottleneck for solo dev founders. Jordan shared on Built This Week how ChatGPT Plus helped him generate landing page copy that converted 3x better after just two iterations.
What it replaces: Slower local IDE coding and trial/error debugging
Replit’s AI assistant integrates directly into their IDE with realtime code suggestions and bug fixes.
Why we use it: It accelerates prototyping and debugging, especially for solo devs working across multiple languages. On a recent Built This Week episode, Ghostwriter cut prototyping time by 40%.
What it replaces: Hiring graphic designers or learning complex design tools
Midjourney leverages AI to generate high-quality visuals and UI mockups from text prompts.
Why we use it: It lets solo developers create professional-looking graphics without leaving their workflow. Sam showcased Midjourney’s power on Built This Week by generating an app icon and marketing images in under 15 minutes.
What it replaces: Complex analytics setup and tracking code maintenance
Jitsu provides an AI-assisted analytics pipeline that auto-integrates user behavior data with minimal setup.
Why we use it: It helps solo founders quickly understand user behavior and iterate. Jordan featured Jitsu on Built This Week as a simple alternative to Google Analytics that lets him focus on product decisions faster.
Built This Week is a weekly behind-the-scenes look at indie hacking with AI. Sam and Jordan don’t just talk tools - they build with them live, ship updates, and share real lessons.
Every episode dives deep into one tool or workflow, showing you exactly how to adopt it in your solo dev projects. That’s why listeners trust Built This Week to cut through the hype and focus on speed.
With AI tools advancing rapidly, solo devs aren’t just competing – they’re winning against teams.
These AI assistants do the heavy lifting on coding, design, and copy, freeing you to focus on what matters: shipping features and learning.
On Built This Week, weekly builds prove that rapid iteration with AI tools is the new standard for solo developers.
Let’s be honest: speed and learning beats perfection every time.
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Because if you're solo, your speed is your edge. Ship something this week.
