buildwithdew

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Essays on AI, automation & honest side income.

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Abstract organic illustration for: How to run a weekly review with Claude Projects
AI Workflows·10 min read

How to run a weekly review with Claude Projects

A weekly review with Claude becomes reliable when you treat it as a repeatable workflow inside Claude Projects, not a one-off chat. You’ll define inputs (tasks, notes, metrics), persistent instructions, and a simple cadence, then use Artifacts and Sonnet 4.6 to generate dashboards and next‑week plans in ~30 minutes. This walkthrough shows how to set it up once and reuse it every week with minimal friction.

Jun 28, 2026
Abstract organic illustration for: 9 durable prompt patterns that survive model upgrades
AI Workflows·8 min read

9 durable prompt patterns that survive model upgrades

Durable prompt patterns treat prompts as structured, versioned components inside tested workflows—not magic strings. This piece walks through nine practical patterns: context-first design, schema-based shells, reset/guardrails, self-eval loops, emotional priming, prompt orchestration, retries/fallbacks, evaluation-first practices, and prompt management tools. The goal: ship AI workflows in 2025–2026 that tolerate GPT/Claude/Gemini upgrades with minimal firefighting.

Jun 24, 2026
Abstract organic illustration for: n8n vs Make 2026: when each one actually wins
Automation·6 min read

n8n vs Make 2026: when each one actually wins

In n8n vs make 2026, the winner depends less on feature lists than on who owns the automation and how often it runs. Make usually wins for non-technical teams that want fast setup and a managed cloud, while n8n wins when cost, self-hosting, and step-heavy workflows matter. At scale, n8n’s per-execution model is often cheaper; for lighter use, Make can still be the cleaner buy.

Jun 21, 2026
Abstract organic illustration for: Cursor vs Windsurf vs Zed: 30 days shipping with each AI code editor
Tool Reviews·8 min read

Cursor vs Windsurf vs Zed: 30 days shipping with each AI code editor

Cursor is the best all-rounder for AI-heavy coding, Windsurf is the closest Cursor-style swap with a different agent model, and Zed is the speed-and-cost pick if you value open source and a lighter editor. After 30 days shipping in each, the decision mostly comes down to how much control, autonomy, and performance you want.

Jun 14, 2026
Abstract organic illustration for: notion ai vs mem vs reflect for second-brain workflows
Tool Reviews·8 min read

notion ai vs mem vs reflect for second-brain workflows

Notion AI is the best fit if you want a structured second brain that also handles tasks, databases, and team collaboration. Mem is stronger for fast capture and AI-led resurfacing, while Reflect is the better pick for privacy-first, backlink-driven personal knowledge work. The right choice depends on whether you want structure, automation, or graph-style thinking.

Jun 10, 2026
Abstract organic illustration for: Productized AI services: 5 offers that actually sell in 2026
Side Income·9 min read

Productized AI services: 5 offers that actually sell in 2026

Productized AI services are fixed-scope, fixed-price packages that turn repeatable, AI-heavy work into recurring revenue. In 2026, the offers that actually sell attach to clear outcomes: faster support, more qualified leads, better intelligence, and leaner operations. This piece walks through five proven productized AI offers, realistic price points, core tools, and how to position them if you’re a consultant, agency, or solo operator.

Jun 7, 2026
Abstract organic illustration for: Newsletter monetization math: what 1,000 subscribers really earns
Side Income·8 min read

Newsletter monetization math: what 1,000 subscribers really earns

Newsletter monetization math in 2026 is unforgiving: at median benchmarks, 1,000 subscribers on a free list typically translates into roughly $62/month from paid subs, or around $6/month in blended revenue if you’re just starting. Niche, pricing, and model selection matter far more than list size. The path to meaningful income is stacking one or two high-leverage revenue models and gradually increasing value per subscriber.

Jun 3, 2026
Abstract organic illustration for: Build a research agent with the Perplexity API in one evening
Tutorials·9 min read

Build a research agent with the Perplexity API in one evening

You can build a working perplexity api research agent in one evening by scoping the problem, using Perplexity’s Agent API presets, and wiring a simple plan→search→read→extract→verify→cite loop in a single script. This tutorial walks through setup, the Agent API “define the run” flow, a minimal Python implementation, and how to extend it with background runs and internal knowledge bases.

May 31, 2026
Abstract organic illustration for: Automate your invoicing with Stripe and a 50‑line script
Tutorials·8 min read

Automate your invoicing with Stripe and a 50‑line script

This tutorial shows how to automate invoicing with Stripe using a ~50‑line Python script, wired to a simple CSV or Airtable export. You’ll see how to validate customer data, create invoice items, generate and finalize invoices, and optionally send them automatically. We’ll keep Stripe as the billing engine, your spreadsheet as the source of record, and avoid brittle one‑off hacks that break as you grow.

May 27, 2026
Abstract organic illustration for: Boring AI Niches Freelance: 7 Services Paying $5k+/Month
Side Income·9 min read

Boring AI Niches Freelance: 7 Services Paying $5k+/Month

The best-paying boring AI niches freelance work is not flashy app building; it is implementation for businesses with clear pain points. In 2026, freelancers report $5k–$10k/month from AI market research, appointment-setting systems, workflow automation, and niche custom GPTs. The pattern is simple: sell outcomes, package the offer, and stay in one vertical long enough to compound.

May 17, 2026