Build AI Icons with this Amazing SaaS in a Day!

Build AI Icons with this Amazing SaaS in a Day!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Building a Software as a Service
3. Inspiration from Twitter
4. Setting up Next.js Application
5. Implementing Social Sign-in with Next Auth
6. Managing User Credits with Stripe
7. Creating the Icon Generator
8. Integrating with Open AI API
9. Storing Icons with Amazon S3
10. Managing User Data with Planet Scale
11. Future Plans and Monetization
12. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, I will share my experience of building a software as a service (SaaS) application in just one day. I was inspired by a similar icon generator I saw on Twitter and decided to challenge myself to see how much I could accomplish in a short amount of time. I will walk you through the entire process, from setting up the application using Next.js and Next Auth for social sign-in, to integrating with Stripe for managing user credits and generating icons using the Open AI API. I will also explain how I store the icons in Amazon S3 and manage user data with Planet Scale. Finally, I will discuss my future plans for the application and the possibility of monetization.

Building a Software as a Service

Building a software as a service (SaaS) application is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. It involves creating a web-based application that users can access and use for a specific purpose or service. These applications often require user authentication, payment processing, and integration with various APIs. In this article, I will share my experience of building a SaaS application that generates icons based on user input. I will explain the technologies and tools I used and walk you through the development process step by step.

Inspiration from Twitter

While scrolling through Twitter, I came across a tweet about an icon generator that used AI to generate icons based on certain criteria. Intrigued by the idea, I decided to challenge myself to see if I could build a similar application in just one day. I set out to create an icon generator where users could enter a prompt, select a color scheme and style, and generate unique icons. I was excited to see how far I could push myself and what I could accomplish within the given time frame.

Setting up Next.js Application

I started the development process by setting up a Next.js application. Next.js is a popular framework for building server-side rendered React applications. It provides a powerful development environment and helps streamline the development process. I used Next.js to create the foundation of my SaaS application, including routing, server-side rendering, and API integration.

To implement user authentication, I utilized Next Auth, a library that simplifies the process of adding social sign-in to a Next.js application. Users can sign in to the application using their Gmail accounts, which provides a seamless and secure authentication experience. Although I had not yet implemented the Magic Link email sign-in feature, it was on my to-do list for future development.

Managing User Credits with Stripe

To allow users to generate icons, I implemented a credit system. Each user has a certain number of credits associated with their account. By default, users start with zero credits and need to purchase credits to use the icon generator. I integrated Stripe, a popular payment processing platform, into the application to handle credit purchases.

When a user clicks on the "Buy Credits" button, they are redirected to a payment page powered by Stripe. They can choose to buy credits for a specific amount, such as $5 for 50 credits. Once the payment is successful, a webhook event is sent from Stripe to my application, which updates the user's credit balance accordingly. This allows users to purchase credits and use them to generate icons.

Creating the Icon Generator

The main functionality of my SaaS application is the icon generator itself. Users can enter a prompt, select a color scheme, and choose a style for their icons. The prompt can be anything they desire, such as "happy panda" or "sleek car". The color scheme determines the overall color palette of the icons, and the style defines the visual appearance, such as "polygon" or "circular".

When users click the "Generate Icons" button, an API request is made to the Open AI API. This API is responsible for generating the actual icons based on the user's input. However, it is important to note that using the Open AI API incurs a cost, with each request charging approximately 2 cents. As a result, users are charged accordingly based on the number of icons they generate.

Integrating with Open AI API

To generate icons, I integrated with the Open AI API. Open AI provides a powerful API that utilizes AI models to generate text and images. I utilized their capabilities to generate unique icons based on the user's input. Each request made to the Open AI API incurs a cost, which I handle by passing the charges onto the users. This integration allows for the dynamic generation of icons based on user prompts and preferences.

Storing Icons with Amazon S3

Once the icons are generated, I needed a way to store and retrieve them for the users. I chose to use Amazon S3, a cloud storage service, for this purpose. When a user generates icons, they are saved to an S3 bucket associated with their account. This allows users to access and download their icons at any time. However, it is important to note that there is currently no way to view historic icons, and this is an area I plan to improve in future updates.

Managing User Data with Planet Scale

To store user data and associate the generated icons with their respective users, I implemented Planet Scale, a globally distributed database. Planet Scale allows for the scalable storage and retrieval of user-related data, such as user accounts, credits, and generated icons. When users sign up or generate icons, their information is stored in the Planet Scale database, ensuring data integrity and performance.

Future Plans and Monetization

While this SaaS application was initially developed as a challenge and side project, I am open to exploring its potential for monetization in the future. If the application proves to be successful and brings in revenue, I plan to invest more time and effort into its development. This includes purchasing a unique domain, optimizing for search engines, and marketing the application to a wider audience.

I am also considering the possibility of offering a course where I teach others how to build similar applications. This course would provide detailed explanations and code examples for each step of the development process. While some may be hesitant about monetizing educational content, it is important to acknowledge the time and effort required to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to build such applications.

Conclusion

In conclusion, building a software as a service (SaaS) application in just one day is a challenging task. However, with the right set of tools and technologies, it is possible to create a functional and engaging application. In this article, I shared my experience of building an icon generator application using Next.js, Next Auth, Stripe, Open AI API, Amazon S3, and Planet Scale. I also discussed my future plans for the application and the potential for monetization. I hope this article serves as inspiration for your own SaaS projects and encourages you to explore the possibilities of building scalable and profitable applications.