Building Full-Stack Apps with AI: A Deep Dive into Convex’s Chef Tool

In the ever-evolving world of no-code and prompt-based app builders, developers and entrepreneurs alike are discovering new ways to bring their ideas to life quickly and efficiently. Platforms like Lovable, Bolt, and Vercel’s V0ero have simplified building modern web applications, but one area where many tools still struggle is backend development—especially when integrating AI models.

In this blog post, we explore an exciting backend solution called Convex and its recently released tool, Chef, which is designed to streamline full-stack development with AI. We’ll walk through the key features of Chef, share practical insights from building real applications, and highlight why this platform could be a game-changer for creating robust, scalable web apps.

Why Backend Development Remains a Challenge

Many no-code and prompt-based builders are excellent at generating frontends and handling basic logic with minimal effort. However, backend functionality—such as database management, user authentication, and server-side operations—often requires additional tools or integrations.

For instance, Lovable, a full-stack platform, relies on Supabase for backend support. While Supabase is powerful, it may not always provide the smoothest experience when working with AI-driven development.

This limitation is where Convex shines.

Introducing Convex and Chef

Convex recently launched a new tool called Chef, designed specifically to simplify backend creation for AI-powered apps. Though not brand new, Chef has flown under the radar despite its impressive capabilities.

What Makes Chef Special?

• Rapid Backend Setup: Chef can generate a complete backend within minutes, including essential database tables and schemas.
• Built-in Authentication: The backend comes preconfigured with user authentication, supporting features like anonymous login.
• TypeScript & React-Based Backend: Chef’s backend is written entirely in React using TypeScript, enabling type safety and making it easy for developers familiar with frontend technologies to maintain and extend.
• Seamless AI Integration: Since AI models are trained on React and TypeScript codebases, Chef’s approach allows the AI to understand and modify the backend code accurately.
• Fully Deployable Projects: The generated apps can be downloaded and run locally without additional setup.
• Built-in Database Management: The Convex ecosystem tightly integrates the database with generated schemas, streamlining data handling.

A Walkthrough: Building a Splitwise Clone with Chef

To test Chef’s capabilities, a prototype Splitwise-style application was built using a single, well-crafted prompt. The first attempt, using a generic prompt, produced an incomplete app missing critical features.

This experience underscored an important lesson:

AI tools require strong, well-structured prompts from the start. Major features are much harder to add later without breaking functionality.

With a detailed, comprehensive prompt, the second version of the app included:

• Signup and anonymous login
• Group creation and management
• Adding members by email or as unregistered users
• Expense and payment tracking with real-time balance updates
• A clean, user-friendly interface

The backend was fully set up in Convex’s database, with all necessary tables and schemas generated automatically. Even when minor balance calculation issues emerged, switching the AI model (e.g., to Claude) resolved them effectively.

Limitations and Areas for Improvement

While Chef impresses with its backend integration and AI-powered coding, there are some current constraints:

• No Image Support in Prompts: The platform only accepts text instructions. This makes UI tweaks challenging when visual references like screenshots or mockups would simplify communication.
• Pricing: Presently, Chef’s pricing appears to be a flat $25 plan without alternative options.
• Token Limits: Editing projects is subject to token limits, requiring API key integration for extended use.

Despite these drawbacks, the platform’s strengths far outweigh the inconveniences for many use cases.

Building a New App from Scratch: Neighbor Gear

To further showcase Chef’s versatility, a new app concept—a tool rental platform called Neighbor Gear—was created. Starting from a fresh prompt developed with ChatGPT, the app was generated end-to-end, featuring:

• User-generated listings with image uploads
• Booking system with date selection and price calculations
• Submission forms for adding rental gear
• Responsive, modern UI with smooth interactions

Again, the React and TypeScript backend was fully functional, enabling seamless local deployment and future scalability.

Why Chef is a Powerful Tool for Developers and Entrepreneurs

• Speed: Quickly build and deploy full-stack applications without extensive coding or hiring developers.
• Scalability: The backend and database grow with your business, minimizing the need for major overhauls.
• Familiarity: Since the backend is React-based, frontend developers can easily understand and maintain the code.
• AI-Friendly: The AI’s familiarity with TypeScript and React codebases means fewer errors and more effective feature additions.

Whether you’re launching a SaaS product, a small business website, or a prototype, Chef offers an impressive blend of automation, control, and developer experience.

Final Thoughts

Convex’s Chef tool represents a significant step forward in AI-assisted full-stack development. By combining rapid backend generation, strong AI integration, and a developer-friendly stack, it enables creators to bring complex applications to life with minimal friction.

If you’re interested in experimenting with AI-driven app building, Chef is definitely worth exploring. As the platform matures and addresses current limitations, it could become a staple in the no-code and AI development landscape.

Want to Learn More?

Stay tuned for more tutorials and walkthroughs on AI-powered development tools. If you found this post helpful, consider subscribing to our channel and joining our community of innovators building the future of software.

Have you tried Convex or Chef? Share your experiences and questions in the comments below!