Thoughts & Perspectives
Building in public
Cursor vs Codex (2026): IDE Agent vs Terminal Agent
Cursor is an AI-first IDE. OpenAI Codex is a terminal-native autonomous agent. They're often compared, but they target different workflows. Here's when each one wins.
Claude Code vs Codex (2026): Which Terminal AI Agent Wins?
Claude Code and OpenAI Codex are both terminal-native autonomous coding agents. Here's the honest comparison after shipping production work in each — pricing, focus discipline, model lineup, and when to use which.
Windsurf vs Claude Code: Which AI Coding Agent Wins in 2026?
Windsurf is an agent IDE. Claude Code is a terminal agent. I shipped real features with both. Here's what each one is actually good at and which to pick.
Bolt vs Lovable: Which Should Non-Developers Use in 2026?
Bolt and Lovable both promise to turn prompts into apps. I built the same MVP in each and reviewed the code as a fractional CTO. Here's which one is actually safe to ship.
Cursor vs Windsurf: Which AI IDE Should You Use in 2026?
I shipped two production features this month — one in Cursor, one in Windsurf. Here's the honest comparison: pricing, agent mode, code quality, and when each one actually wins.
How to Hire a Fractional CTO: Complete Guide for Founders (2026)
Hiring a fractional CTO takes 2-4 weeks if you know what you're looking for. This is the step-by-step process: where to find them, what to ask, what to pay, and how to structure the engagement so it actually works.
Build vs Buy AI: A Decision Framework for Profitable Businesses (2026)
Build vs buy is the AI question every operator is wrestling with right now — and the wrong answer is expensive in both directions. Here's the 4-question framework I run with the businesses I work with.
AI Consultant vs AI Agency vs Productized AI Ops: How to Choose (2026)
AI consultant, AI agency, and productized AI ops are three different products being sold to the same buyer. They cost different amounts, ship in different timeframes, and fail in different ways. Here's the honest comparison from someone who runs one and advises on the others.
AI Operations: How I Scope AI Projects That Actually Ship
Most AI projects fail before they start because they were scoped to impress, not to ship. Here's the 3-phase AI operations scoping framework I use at SuperDupr — and how to know when an AI pilot is actually a stalling tactic.
The Delegation Decision: When to Hire Your First Employee as a Founder
Most founders hire too late, then hire too generic. The Delegation Decision is a 3-question test for figuring out what to take off your plate first — and whether the answer is a fractional, a contractor, or a full-time first hire.
The Prioritization Formula: A Product Prioritization Framework for Solo Founders
RICE, ICE, Kano, MoSCoW, Lean Prioritization — every prioritization framework was built for product teams, not solo founders. Here's a 5-input formula that synthesizes the best of all five for the 1-person company.
The Clarity Filter: How to Beat Feature Creep and Know What to Stop Building
Feature creep is a clarity problem, not a discipline problem. Here's the 4-question filter I run when a roadmap is bloated and the founder can't tell what to cut.
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