Multi-Tool Workflows

AI Builders (Lovable, Bolt, v0):
✓ Rapid prototyping
✓ Full-stack scaffolding
✓ Visual components
✗ Limited customization
✗ Hard to debug

AI Editors (Cursor, Copilot):
✓ Fine-grained control
✓ Existing codebase work
✓ IDE integration
✗ Slower for greenfield
✗ Manual file management

AI Agents (Claude Code):
✓ Complex refactoring
✓ Multi-file operations
✓ Codebase understanding
✗ No visual preview
✗ Terminal only

Single Tool: Limited to tool's strengths
Multi-Tool:  Best tool for each task

Example Project Flow:
Lovable → Initial prototype (30 min)
  ↓
Cursor → Refine UI/UX (2 hours)
  ↓
Claude Code → Complex backend logic (1 hour)
  ↓
Copilot → Polish and optimize (1 hour)

Tool: Lovable or Bolt

Prompt:
"Create a project management app with:
- Kanban board view
- Task cards with drag and drop
- Project sidebar
- Team member avatars
Use Next.js, Tailwind, shadcn/ui"

Result: Working prototype in ~15 minutes

# Export from Lovable to GitHub
# Clone to local machine
git clone https://github.com/you/project-manager
cd project-manager
npm install

# Open in Cursor
cursor .

In Cursor Chat:
"Improve the Kanban board:
1. Add smooth drag animations
2. Implement optimistic updates
3. Add task filtering by assignee
4. Create keyboard shortcuts for common actions"

# In terminal with Claude Code
claude

> Add real-time collaboration:
> - WebSocket connection for live updates
> - Presence indicators showing who's viewing
> - Conflict resolution for simultaneous edits
> - Activity feed showing recent changes

// In VS Code with Copilot
// Start typing and let Copilot complete

// Add loading states for all async operations
// Copilot suggests appropriate loading UI patterns

// Add error boundaries around drag and drop
// Copilot generates error boundary components

// Implement keyboard navigation
// Copilot completes accessibility patterns

Tool: v0.dev

Generate individual components:
- "Modern sidebar navigation with icons and tooltips"
- "Data table with sorting, filtering, and pagination"
- "Dashboard card with sparkline chart"
- "Form with inline validation"

// Cursor Composer prompt:
"Create a design system that:
1. Wraps these v0 components in a consistent API
2. Adds shared theming (colors, spacing, typography)
3. Creates Storybook stories for each component
4. Adds comprehensive TypeScript types"

claude

> Generate comprehensive documentation for the design system:
> - Component API reference
> - Usage examples for each component
> - Accessibility guidelines
> - Migration guide from existing components

claude

> Analyze this React class component codebase:
> - Identify patterns and anti-patterns
> - List components to prioritize for refactoring
> - Suggest modern replacements for deprecated patterns
> - Estimate effort for full modernization

Cursor Chat with @codebase context:

"Refactor UserProfile component:
- Convert from class to functional component
- Replace componentDidMount with useEffect
- Replace this.state with useState
- Add TypeScript types
- Keep all existing functionality"

// With Copilot in VS Code
// Open refactored file, start test file

// UserProfile.test.tsx
import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
import { UserProfile } from './UserProfile'

describe('UserProfile', () => {
  // Copilot generates test cases based on component
  it('renders user name', () => {
    render(<UserProfile user={mockUser} />)
    // Copilot completes assertions
  })
})

Tool: Bolt

"Create a REST API for a blog with:
- Posts CRUD endpoints
- Comments with nesting
- User authentication
- Rate limiting

Use Next.js API routes with Prisma"

claude

> Add to this API:
> 1. Input validation with Zod schemas
> 2. Comprehensive error handling with error codes
> 3. Request logging with correlation IDs
> 4. OpenAPI/Swagger documentation
> 5. Integration tests for all endpoints

Cursor Composer:

"Generate a TypeScript SDK for this API:
- Type-safe client functions
- Automatic token refresh
- Request/response interceptors
- React Query hooks for each endpoint"

Simple Feature (< 1 day):
→ Single tool usually sufficient
→ Use Cursor or Copilot

Medium Feature (1-3 days):
→ Builder for prototype
→ Editor for refinement

Complex Feature (> 3 days):
→ Full multi-tool workflow
→ Builder → Editor → Agent

When switching tools:
1. Document the current state
2. Commit before switching
3. Note any pending changes
4. Brief new tool on context

# Before switching from Cursor to Claude Code
git commit -am "WIP: Auth flow - login complete, signup pending"

# In Claude Code
> I'm continuing work on the auth flow.
> Login is complete in app/login/page.tsx.
> Need to implement:
> - Signup form with validation
> - Email verification
> - Password reset flow

# Create checkpoint after each tool session
git add .
git commit -m "feat: kanban board prototype [Lovable]"

# Continue in Cursor
git commit -m "feat: add drag animations [Cursor]"

# Then Claude Code
git commit -m "feat: real-time collaboration [Claude Code]"

Lovable/Bolt exit when:
- Core functionality works
- Need custom business logic
- Performance optimization needed

Cursor exit when:
- Need batch operations
- Complex multi-file refactoring
- Full codebase context needed

Claude Code exit when:
- Need visual debugging
- Fine-tuned UI adjustments
- Quick inline edits

Don't:
- Try to make builder output "perfect"
- Fight the generated patterns

Do:
- Accept builder conventions initially
- Refactor in editor when needed

Don't:
- Switch tools mid-task without notes
- Assume new tool knows your intent

Do:
- Write clear commit messages
- Brief new tool on current state
- Include relevant file paths

Don't:
- Switch tools for every small task
- Use unfamiliar tool for urgent work

Do:
- Complete logical chunks before switching
- Use familiar tools under pressure

Split work across tools:

Team Member A (Cursor):
→ Working on frontend components

Team Member B (Claude Code):
→ Working on backend API

Sync Point:
→ Both commit to feature branch
→ Integrate and test together

# .github/workflows/ai-pipeline.yml
name: AI-Enhanced Pipeline

on: [push]

jobs:
  analyze:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      # Use AI for code review suggestions
      - name: AI Code Review
        uses: your-org/ai-review-action@v1

      # Auto-generate missing tests
      - name: Generate Tests
        uses: your-org/ai-test-gen@v1