How to vibe codeRippling

Prerequisites

• Node.jsfree

  Required runtime for Next.js and TypeScript tooling

• GitHubfree

  Source code repository and CI/CD triggers

AI coding tools

• Claude Code

  Handles complex multi-file architectural scaffolding and full-stack iteration from terminal prompts

• Cursor

  Ideal for fine-tuning complex UI tables, forms, and permission matrix views

Build guide

1. 01Project Scaffolding and Unified Employee Schema

   Initialize the Next.js project with Tailwind CSS, configure Neon Postgres with Drizzle ORM, and set up the core Employee Graph data model.

   Scramble a fresh Next.js project using App Router, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS. Connect Drizzle ORM to a Neon Postgres database. Define a comprehensive relational schema for an 'Employee Graph': employees (id, name, email, departmentId, managerId, salary, employmentStatus, location, created_at), departments, devices, and expenses. Ensure foreign keys support cascading updates so that structural shifts ripple cleanly across tables. Set up basic error logging and environment configuration templates.

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2. 02Authentication and Role-Based Access Control

   Implement better-auth with organization plugins and dynamic role-based permissions matrix to govern what each user can view and execute.

   Integrate better-auth into the Next.js app with email/password and organization multi-tenant plugins. Create a granular Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) middleware and helper utility that checks employee attributes (admin, HRBP, manager, employee) against requested resource permissions. Build a settings screen where admins can define custom field visibility rules for sensitive compensation data.

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3. 03The Unified Employee Directory and Lifecycle Automation

   Build the central employee grid interface and automated onboarding/offboarding workflow engine.

   Build a high-density, filterable employee directory table using shadcn/ui primitives. Implement an onboarding wizard that executes a transaction across multiple tables: creating the user record, assigning a mock IT device stub, provisioning a mock app access token, and scheduling payroll entries simultaneously. Build an offboarding trigger that immediately revokes permissions and logs the exit tasks.

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4. 04AI Natural Language Reporting Engine

   Integrate the Vercel AI SDK and Anthropic API to convert natural language queries into structured database operations and reports.

   Implement an AI reporting interface using the Vercel AI SDK and Anthropic API. Provide the LLM with the database schema context and safe query-generation constraints. Write a secure execution sandbox function that translates user prompts like 'Show me fully burdened payroll costs by department' into safe SQL queries or Drizzle operations, rendering the resulting structured data into dynamic data visualization charts.

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5. 05Payroll, Spend Tracking, and Polish

   Add mock payroll run calculations, expense tracking lists, and transaction notifications via Resend.

   Build a mock payroll run module that aggregates active employee salaries, deductions, and tax stubs into a summary statement, allowing a mock pay run approval action. Implement an expense tracking dashboard where employees can submit receipts. Configure Resend to dispatch transactional email notifications when payroll is processed or onboarding tasks are assigned. Polish all loading states, error boundaries, and mobile responsiveness.

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Cost vs paying for Rippling