# How to Build a Complete Full-Stack Application Using AI Tools Like Tempo and Chef

> Learn to build a full-stack application using AI tools. Tempo scaffolds your project, and Chef offers serverless data management for efficient development.

- Repository: [Elliot Chen/one-person-company](https://github.com/cyfyifanchen/one-person-company)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-28

---

**You can build a complete full-stack application by using Tempo to scaffold a repository with backend, frontend, and authentication, then optionally replacing the backend with Chef (Convex) for serverless data management.**

The **one-person-company** repository by `cyfyifanchen` serves as a curated knowledge base that catalogs AI-powered development tools for solo developers. To build a complete full-stack application using AI tools like Tempo and Chef, you follow a workflow that combines rapid scaffolding with serverless backend architecture. This guide walks through the specific implementation details found in the repository's [`README.md`](https://github.com/cyfyifanchen/one-person-company/blob/main/README.md) and demonstrates how to integrate these tools into a production-ready stack.

## Repository Architecture and Tool Discovery

The `cyfyifanchen/one-person-company` repository organizes its recommendations in plain-text Markdown files, making the catalog instantly searchable and version-controlled.

### Content Structure

All tool entries reside in the top-level [`README.md`](https://github.com/cyfyifanchen/one-person-company/blob/main/README.md), categorized into collapsible sections marked with Chinese headers. The **代码** (code) section contains the Tempo entry, while **全栈开发与快速构建** (full-stack development) houses the Chef documentation.

According to the source code at lines 33-35 of [`README.md`](https://github.com/cyfyifanchen/one-person-company/blob/main/README.md), Tempo is documented as:

```markdown
| [Tempo](https://tempo.new) | 快速构建全栈项目、支持后端+前端+Auth+支付 | 免费 |

```

Chef appears at lines 383-385 within the full-stack subsection:

```markdown
- [Chef](https://chef.convex.dev)
  - 后端 + 前端 + Auth

```

### Asset Organization

Visual references and internationalization files reside in the `assets/` directory. The [`assets/README-EN.md`](https://github.com/cyfyifanchen/one-person-company/blob/main/assets/README-EN.md) provides English translations of the tool catalog, while image files (`assets/*.png`, `assets/*.gif`) illustrate UI workflows directly within the documentation.

## Kick-Starting Projects with Tempo

Tempo (`https://tempo.new`) generates production-grade scaffolds that eliminate boilerplate configuration.

### Generated Stack Components

When you initialize a project through Tempo's "Full-Stack" mode, the tool provisions:

- **Backend layer**: Pre-configured Node/Express or Python/FastAPI with JWT authentication routes
- **Frontend layer**: React or Vue application with auth provider integration
- **Payment integration**: Optional Stripe or PayPal configuration for monetization
- **Deployment configs**: Dockerfiles and platform-specific settings (Vercel, Netlify)

This scaffold approach allows you to bypass the typical 4-6 hours of initial configuration required for authentication and database connections.

## Implementing Serverless Backends with Chef

Chef leverages Convex (`convex.dev`) to replace traditional server management with declarative, type-safe serverless functions.

### Architectural Differences

While Tempo generates a monolithic backend with explicit API routes, Chef provides:

- **Real-time APIs**: Automatic WebSocket synchronization without manual socket management
- **Secure authentication hooks**: Built-in auth providers that integrate with the frontend scaffold
- **Scalable storage**: Document-based database that scales horizontally without DevOps intervention

The transition from Tempo's generated backend to Chef requires replacing the REST API layer with Convex queries and mutations.

## Full-Stack Integration Workflow

Follow this sequence to combine both tools into a unified application:

1. **Scaffold with Tempo**: Execute `git clone` on the generated repository to establish your base structure
2. **Remove boilerplate backend**: Delete the `backend/` folder created by Tempo if switching to Chef
3. **Initialize Chef**: Run `npx convex init` to create the `convex/` directory with type-safe serverless functions
4. **Connect frontend**: Update React components to use Convex's React client instead of REST fetch calls

### Code Implementation Example

Below is the complete workflow for swapping Tempo's backend with Chef's Convex implementation:

```bash

# Clone the Tempo scaffold (replace <repo> with your GitHub repository name)

git clone https://github.com/tempo-dev/tempo-starter.git <repo>
cd <repo>

# Remove the default Node/Express backend to make room for Chef

rm -rf backend/

# Initialize Convex (Chef) within the project root

npx convex init

# This creates a convex/ folder with type-safe serverless functions

```

After initialization, update your frontend components to query the Convex backend:

```javascript
import { useQuery } from 'react-query';
import { api } from '../convex/_generated/api';

function TodoList() {
  const { data } = useQuery('todos', () => api.todo.list());
  return (
    <ul>
      {data?.map(t => <li key={t._id}>{t.title}</li>)}
    </ul>
  );
}

```

The `convex/_generated/api` path contains type definitions generated by the Convex CLI, ensuring end-to-end type safety between your frontend and serverless functions.

## Deployment Strategy

Both tools produce deploy-ready artifacts. Tempo generates configuration files for containerized deployment, while Chef's serverless functions deploy directly to Convex's managed infrastructure. Push your repository to GitHub and connect to your CI/CD platform (GitHub Actions, Vercel, or Netlify) to automate deployments.

## Summary

- The `one-person-company` repository catalogs Tempo at [`README.md`](https://github.com/cyfyifanchen/one-person-company/blob/main/README.md) lines 33-35 and Chef at lines 383-385 under the full-stack development section.
- **Tempo** (`tempo.new`) scaffolds complete full-stack applications including authentication and payment integration.
- **Chef** (Convex) replaces traditional backends with serverless, real-time APIs using the `convex/` directory structure.
- The migration workflow involves removing Tempo's `backend/` folder and running `npx convex init` to switch to serverless architecture.
- Both tools integrate with standard React frontend patterns and support deployment to Vercel, Netlify, or Docker containers.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between Tempo and Chef in full-stack development?

Tempo generates a complete traditional full-stack scaffold with explicit backend servers (Node/Express or Python/FastAPI), while Chef provides a serverless backend layer using Convex that eliminates the need to manage servers or REST APIs. You can use Tempo to bootstrap the project structure and Chef to handle data persistence and real-time synchronization.

### How do I switch from Tempo's backend to Chef's serverless functions?

First, delete the `backend/` directory that Tempo generated. Then run `npx convex init` in your project root to create the `convex/` folder. Update your frontend to import the generated API client from `convex/_generated/api` and replace REST fetch calls with Convex's `useQuery` hooks.

### Where are Tempo and Chef documented in the one-person-company repository?

Both tools are documented in the [`README.md`](https://github.com/cyfyifanchen/one-person-company/blob/main/README.md) file. Tempo appears in the **代码** (code) section at lines 33-35, described as supporting full-stack projects with backend, frontend, Auth, and payments. Chef is listed in the **全栈开发与快速构建** (full-stack development) subsection at lines 383-385, emphasizing backend, frontend, and authentication capabilities.

### Can I use Tempo and Chef together for production applications?

Yes. Tempo provides the initial scaffold including frontend configuration, asset pipelines, and deployment settings, while Chef handles the data layer. This combination leverages Tempo's rapid setup capabilities with Chef's scalable, real-time serverless backend, creating a production-grade stack suitable for high-traffic applications.