UserJot just hit 5,000 users, and I've been thinking about the tools that got me here. Not because they're special or revolutionary – they're not. But because they've become such a natural part of how I work that I barely think about them anymore.
These aren't productivity hacks or optimization tricks. They're just the tools I open every morning and actually enjoy using. The combination has created this nice feedback loop where I can ship features quickly and stay connected to what users actually want.
Here's what my daily stack looks like.
Cursor - AI That Actually Helps Me Code
I've been using Cursor for a few months now, and it's changed how I write code. Not in some dramatic way – more like having a really helpful coding buddy who's always available.
My favorite workflow is writing tests first, then having Claude (Sonnet 4.0) implement the functions. I'll write a test for a new controller with all the edge cases I can think of, then let the AI generate the implementation. It usually nails it on the first try, and when it doesn't, the test tells me exactly what's wrong.
The tab autocomplete has become second nature. It's not about typing faster – it's about staying in flow. When I'm deep in a problem, the last thing I want is to context-switch to remember syntax or look up a function signature.
Is it perfect? No. Sometimes it suggests weird stuff. But it understands context surprisingly well, especially when you're consistent with your patterns. It's like having a junior developer who's read your entire codebase and never forgets anything.
Figma - Where Everything Starts
I've been using Figma for years, way before it was cool. Every UserJot feature starts here – wireframes, UI designs, even quick sketches of ideas.
I'm not a designer. Not even close. But Figma makes it easy enough that I can create something that looks decent and, more importantly, that I can actually implement. Auto-layout and components do most of the heavy lifting. Once you have a few base components, designing new features is mostly just arranging blocks.
Last week, I redesigned our feedback page. Took about an hour from blank canvas to something I was happy with. Could a real designer do better? Absolutely. But it's good enough, and more importantly, it's done.
The best part is everything lives in one place. Marketing site designs, app UI, random logo ideas – it's all there. No hunting through folders or trying to remember which tool I used for what.
UserJot - Where Ideas Become Features
Yeah, I use my own product. But hear me out – it's not just dogfooding. UserJot has become the central hub for deciding what to build next.
Users submit ideas, vote on what they want, and most importantly, discuss why they need something. Those discussions are gold. A feature request for "better notifications" turns into a conversation about their specific workflow, and suddenly I understand the real problem.
I sort by top requests and work through them. Sometimes it's bugs (always fun), sometimes it's feature requests, sometimes it's just small improvements that make a big difference. The anonymous feedback feature we shipped recently? That came from 20+ users asking for it because their users wanted to submit feedback without having to create an account.
The feedback loop is addictive. Ship something → users react → learn what they really need → ship something better. It keeps me building stuff people actually want instead of what I think they want.
TablePlus - Where I Actually See What's Happening
I use Postgres for everything in UserJot, and TablePlus is how I make sense of it all. It's just a database GUI, but it's the one that finally made SQL click for me.
When I'm debugging something weird or trying to understand how data flows through the system, I open TablePlus. Being able to see the actual data, run queries, and test things out directly has taught me more about databases than any tutorial.
Last week, a user reported that their feedback wasn't showing up. Two minutes in TablePlus showed me exactly what was happening – a weird edge case with how we handled archived workspaces. Fixed it right there with a quick UPDATE statement, then went to Cursor to make sure it couldn't happen again.
The best part is how fast it is. Even with hundreds of thousands of rows, queries feel instant. I can browse tables, check relationships, and run complex JOINs without waiting. It makes working with data feel less abstract and more like moving real things around.
The Flow That Keeps Me Shipping
Here's how it all connects:
- Check UserJot for top requests and discussions
- Jump into Figma if it needs design work
- Open Cursor and implement it
- Check TablePlus if I need to understand the data
- Ship it and watch the feedback roll in
This flow means I can usually go from user request to production in 1-2 days. The recent Slack integration? Three days from "it would be cool if..." to live in production.
Ahrefs - Content That People Actually Find
Content marketing is a big part of how UserJot grows, and Ahrefs is how I figure out what to write.
The process is simple: find what people are searching for in the feedback and roadmap space, then write content that actually answers their questions. No tricks, just helpful content.
I also check what competitors rank for. Not to copy them, but to find gaps. If everyone's writing about "how to collect feedback," maybe I write about "what to do when you get no feedback."
We're at 30k monthly visitors now, mostly from about 50 blog posts. Each post targets specific keywords that our potential users are searching for. It's not rocket science – just consistent effort and writing about stuff I actually know about.
Cloudflare - Everything Just Works
Cloudflare powers basically everything. Workers render the app globally, R2 stores files, and their proxy handles all the traffic stuff I don't want to think about.
The whole setup scales effortlessly, which still blows my mind. UserJot loads fast everywhere – whether you're in San Francisco or Singapore. I set it up once and haven't had to touch it since.
Workers deserve a special mention. Being able to run code at the edge means the app feels snappy no matter where users are. No complicated infrastructure, no Kubernetes nightmares, just JavaScript running close to users.
Stripe - Payments Without the Headache
Stripe handles all the money stuff. Subscriptions, invoices, failed payments, webhooks – it all just works.
Their new Managed Payments feature is fantastic. They handle taxes, compliance, all that stuff that would otherwise eat up weeks of my time. I haven't touched payment code in months, and that's exactly how it should be.
The best payment system is the one you never have to think about. Stripe is boring in the best possible way – it just quietly does its job while I focus on building features.
Why These Tools?
There's nothing special about this stack. Thousands of developers use these exact same tools. But that's kind of the point.
They're proven. They're reliable. They have communities and documentation and answers on Stack Overflow. When something goes wrong (and something always goes wrong), I can find help quickly.
More importantly, I actually enjoy using them. Cursor makes coding feel fluid. Figma makes design accessible. UserJot keeps me connected to users. The others handle the infrastructure so I can focus on building.
The best stack is the one you'll actually use. These tools fit how my brain works and how I like to build. Your perfect stack might be completely different, and that's fine.
Just Ship It
Your tools don't define your success. I know developers building amazing things with vim and developers who can't ship anything despite having every tool imaginable.
Pick tools that feel right, learn them well, and then stop thinking about them. The goal is to build something people want, not to have the perfect setup.
If you're looking for a way to stay connected to your users and build what they actually need, UserJot has a generous free tier. It's been the cornerstone of how I build, and maybe it could help you too.
What tools do you use daily? I'm always curious what others have in their stack. Sometimes the best discoveries come from casual conversations about the boring stuff we use every day.
Love TablePlus