Build and Deploy a SaaS AI Website Builder | Next.js 15, React, Inngest, Prisma | Lovable clone

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of building and deploying a SaaS AI website builder using Next.js 15, React 19, and various AI tools. The project will utilize Inngest for background job orchestration, Clerk for authentication and billing, and Prisma for database integration. Throughout the tutorial, we will cover everything from setup to deployment, enabling you to create a modern AI-powered application.

Step 1: Setup the Project

• Install Node.js and ensure you have a compatible version for Next.js 15.
• Create a new Next.js project:

  npx create-next-app@latest your-project-name
  cd your-project-name
  

• Install required dependencies:

  npm install react react-dom tailwindcss prisma @prisma/client
  

Step 2: Configure Tailwind CSS

• Initialize Tailwind CSS in your project:

  npx tailwindcss init -p
  

• Update the tailwind.config.js to include paths to your template files:

  module.exports = {
    content: [
      "./app/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}",
      "./pages/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}",
      "./components/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}",
    ],
    theme: {
      extend: {},
    },
    plugins: [],
  }
  

• Add Tailwind directives to your CSS file (usually styles/globals.css):

  @tailwind base;
  @tailwind components;
  @tailwind utilities;
  

Step 3: Set Up the Database

• Use Prisma to set up your database. Create a schema.prisma file in the root of your project:

  datasource db {
    provider = "postgresql"
    url      = env("DATABASE_URL")
  }
  
  generator client {
    provider = "prisma-client-js"
  }
  
  model User {
    id    Int     @id @default(autoincrement())
    email String  @unique
    name  String?
  }
  

• Run the following command to create your database tables:

  npx prisma migrate dev --name init
  

Step 4: Set Up tRPC

• Install tRPC dependencies:

  npm install @trpc/server @trpc/client react-query
  

• Create a router for your API in a new file (e.g., src/server/routers/appRouter.ts):

  import { createRouter } from '@trpc/server';
  
  export const appRouter = createRouter()
    .query('getUser', {
      resolve({ ctx }) {
        return ctx.user;
      },
    });
  

Step 5: Implement Background Jobs

• Use Inngest to set up background job processing.
• Install Inngest:

  npm install @inngest/inngest
  

• Create a new Inngest function to handle background tasks.

Step 6: Configure AI Jobs

• Integrate AI models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Grok) into your application.
• Create functions to handle AI job creation and execution.

Step 7: Set Up E2B Sandboxes

• Use Docker to create isolated environments for your applications.
• Create Dockerfile for your project:

  FROM node:16
  WORKDIR /app
  COPY . .
  RUN npm install
  CMD ["npm", "run", "dev"]
  

Step 8: Develop the Agent Tools

• Implement agent tools that will handle project generation and management.
• Create a user interface for users to interact with the agents.

Step 9: Build the Messaging System

• Develop a messaging feature for user communication within the app.
• Create a simple UI component to display messages.

Step 10: Create the Project Management Interface

• Build a dashboard to manage user projects.
• Allow users to create, edit, and delete projects from the dashboard.

Step 11: Design the User Interface

• Utilize Tailwind CSS to style your components.
• Create a responsive layout for mobile and desktop views.

Step 12: Set Up Authentication

• Integrate Clerk for user authentication.
• Follow Clerk's documentation to set up sign-up and login flows.

Step 13: Implement Billing Features

• Use Clerk’s billing features to manage subscriptions and payments.
• Create a billing dashboard for users to view their subscription status.

Step 14: Add Agent Memory Functionality

• Implement memory features that allow agents to remember user preferences and past interactions.

Step 15: Debugging and Final Adjustments

• Test your application thoroughly to fix any bugs.
• Make necessary adjustments based on user feedback.

Step 16: Deployment

• Deploy your application using a platform like Vercel or DigitalOcean.
• Ensure that all environment variables are correctly set in your hosting environment.

Conclusion

You have successfully built a SaaS AI website builder using Next.js, React, and various AI tools. This project provided an extensive overview of integrating modern technologies and frameworks to create a robust web application. As next steps, consider expanding features or exploring more advanced AI integrations to enhance user experience.