How I build React features 2x faster with AI (and why it still needs a real engineer)

A year ago my workflow was: read the ticket, open Figma, write components, fix the CSS, repeat.

Now it looks like this, and it is genuinely faster.

1. Figma to code in minutes, not hours

I use a Figma MCP integration directly in my editor. Instead of tabbing between Figma and VS Code and manually translating spacing values, I extract design tokens straight from the source. The component structure, color system, and typography all map to my Tailwind config automatically. What used to take 2 to 3 hours per screen now takes under 45 minutes.

2. Claude Code handles the boilerplate

Repetitive component scaffolding, prop interfaces, aria labels, test stubs. I prompt once and review instead of writing from scratch. I still write the logic, make the architecture decisions, and own the output. But I am not typing boilerplate anymore.

3. I built my own CLI tooling

I maintain a TypeScript CLI that automates parts of my dev workflow, from ticket parsing to structured code generation. It uses AI APIs under the hood and saves me 30 to 60 minutes per feature just on setup and context switching.

The honest part

AI does not replace the judgment. Knowing when a component should be split, catching an accessibility issue the tool missed, understanding why a state bug is happening, that is still all me. The speed comes from removing the tedious parts, not the important ones.

If you are a startup or product team that needs React features shipped fast and done right, that is exactly what I offer. Check my services or just reach out.