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All articles — Page 5 of 7
Freelance AI Developer vs Agency: Cost, Speed, Risk Compared
For 80% of AI projects under $150k, a vetted freelance senior ships faster and cheaper. Honest 2026 rates, the hybrid model that beats both, and a decision checklist.
How to Hire a Lovable Developer in 2026
How to hire a Lovable developer in 2026: where to find them, what to pay, the five red flags that signal AI-spaghetti, and when a senior beats a junior.
Lovable to Next.js Migration: What a Real Production Move Took
Phase-by-phase Lovable to Next.js migration guide with AppHandoff MCP-driven handoff: SSR, Supabase auth, SEO continuity, and real time estimates by app size.
Agentic Engineering: How One Operator Shipped 99 PRs in 24 Hours
A field report on agentic engineering: 99 PRs, 230 commits, 80,000 LoC across 12 production repos in 24 hours — and the seven orchestration patterns that make it possible.
AI Developer for Startups: Staffing at Each Stage
Stage-by-stage staffing map: pre-seed freelance, seed founding engineer, Series A platform team — 2026 rates, skills by stage, and the token-cost math that kills AI products.
How to Hire an AI Developer in 2026 (Playbook + Red Flags)
The filter I use: scoping, skills checklist, sourcing, 5 interview questions with real answers, 2026 rate bands, and the 3 red flags that have burned every client.
MCP Server vs REST API: When to Use Which (Honest Take)
MCP is not a REST replacement. Decision table, real code from both, side-by-side comparison across 10 dimensions, and the hybrid pattern that ships in production.
How to Use MCP Servers in Cursor (2026 Setup Guide)
The actual working config for ~/.cursor/mcp.json — two transports, env-var secrets, the 5-minute setup flow, and the debugging loop for the red dot.
MCP Server Architecture: How Production MCP Servers Are Actually Built
Four layers every production MCP server needs — transport, JSON-RPC shape, tool definitions, and guardrails. With real code for rate limiting, circuit breakers, and structured errors.
12 Real MCP Server Examples You Can Actually Use (2026)
Not a list of cool MCPs to try — the 12 I actually run in Cursor every day, with the real mcp.json config for each and notes on which transport to pick.
The Brevity Rule: Cut AI Costs ~10% With One Config Change
Six lines of instructions, zero information loss, and nearly 10% off my AI bill. The exact rule, the numbers behind it, and why verbose responses bleed budget twice.