How to vibe codeWoodpecker.co

Prerequisites

• Node.js LTSfree

  Required runtime for executing the Next.js full-stack application and package manager.

• GitHub Accountfree

  Version control and repository hosting for deployment pipelines.

• 

  Resend Accountfree

  Transactional email API for sending outbound test messages and system notifications.

AI coding tools

• Claude Code

  Best-in-class agentic coding tool for scaffolding multi-file backends, queue workers, and UI components from natural language.

• Cursor

  Ideal AI-native code editor for reviewing complex diffs across API routes, database schemas, and frontend forms.

Build guide

1. 01Project Scaffolding & Database Schema

   Initialize the Next.js project with Tailwind CSS, configure better-auth with PostgreSQL via Neon, and set up the core relational data models for campaigns, prospects, email accounts, and sequence steps.

   Scialize a new Next.js project using the App Router, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui. Set up better-auth connected to a Neon PostgreSQL database using Drizzle ORM. Define database schemas for users, email_accounts (storing SMTP/IMAP credentials and OAuth tokens), prospects (first name, last name, email, company, status, custom fields), campaigns (name, status, daily sending limits), and campaign_steps (step number, delay days, subject template, body template). Ensure proper foreign key constraints, indexes on email and campaign status, and create a clean dashboard shell layout with sidebar navigation.

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2. 02Email Account Integration & Verification

   Build the interface and backend handlers for connecting SMTP/IMAP mailboxes and integrating catch-all email syntax validation.

   Build an email account management page where users can add custom SMTP/IMAP credentials or mock OAuth connections for Google and Microsoft. Implement a backend test connection routine that verifies SMTP handshake and IMAP login. Create an email verification utility function that checks DNS MX records, domain syntax, and simulates catch-all verification checks to flag invalid or disposable email addresses before insertion into campaigns.

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3. 03Campaign Sequence Builder & UI

   Develop a multi-step visual campaign builder allowing users to define condition-based follow-up steps, intervals, and spintax templates.

   Create a multi-step campaign sequence builder UI in Next.js. Users should be able to add up to 16 steps per campaign, specifying wait intervals (e.g., send step 2 3 days after step 1 if no reply), subject lines, and rich text email bodies supporting dynamic custom fields (e.g., {{firstName}}, {{company}}). Add a Spintax parser utility (e.g., '{Hi|Hello|Greetings}') that randomly selects phrasing variants during campaign compilation. Store sequence step rules in PostgreSQL.

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4. 04Durable Campaign Queue & Sending Engine

   Implement a background job processing pipeline using Inngest to schedule, throttle, and dispatch campaign emails respecting daily sending limits and timezone rules.

   Implement a durable background processing pipeline using Inngest to execute cold email campaign drips. Create an event handler that evaluates active campaigns, checks daily sending limits per connected email account, validates prospect timezones, compiles personalized message bodies with spintax and custom fields, and dispatches emails via the Resend API or custom SMTP transport. Handle bounce logging, stop sequences upon prospect reply, and update campaign progress state in Neon.

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5. 05Centralized Inbox & AI Intent Detection

   Build a unified inbox view that syncs inbound replies and utilizes the Vercel AI SDK to automatically classify response intent (interested, out of office, bounced, not interested).

   Build a centralized team inbox page in Next.js that aggregates inbound email replies across connected mailboxes via IMAP polling or webhook simulation. Integrate the Vercel AI SDK with a fast language model to analyze incoming reply text and automatically tag intent categories: 'Interested', 'Out of Office', 'Bounced', and 'Not Interested'. Display filtered views by intent tab and allow users to pause prospect sequences directly from the inbox interface.

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Cost vs paying for Woodpecker.co