How to build an app with AI Agent: 5x faster with Refact.ai, even across unfamiliar tech

The challenge: Two ambitious apps, one developer.

I’m building ImperfectForm.fun — an onchain fitness tool using pose detection to correct workout form, and ImperfectBreath — a breathing app that lets creators monetize their breathwork techniques like Wim Hof did.

Both projects demanded skills I don’t have: computer vision, smart contracts, real-time performance tracking, AI feedback systems.

So, how to build a startup with AI? Enter Refact.ai — an autonomous, open-source coding Agent. With it, I built and deployed two apps faster than I thought possible. It understood my project context, found smart solutions to complex issues, and helped me work across unfamiliar tech.

In this article, I’ll break down the real dev challenges I ran into, how Refact.ai helped tackle each one, and exactly how much time it saved me per task. [Spoiler: idea-to-app time got 5x shorter.]

Pose detection integration with AI

The problem: Integrating MediaPipe pose detection with React frontend. What I asked: “Help me detect squat form and provide real-time feedback”.

Source: Hugging face

Refact.ai response:
Analyzed my existing React structure
Generated complete pose detection pipeline
Added real-time feedback system
Included error handling for different lighting conditions.

Result: 94% accuracy pose detection, deployed in 2 days vs. estimated 2 weeks.

Blockchain progress tracking

The problem: Storing fitness progress onchain without gas fees killing UX.

Users from various chains undertake transactions to add scores to the leaderboard.

Before Refact.ai: Stuck researching blockchain solutions & attempting to wrestle with REMIX or HARDHAT.

Remix — as confusing as it looks.

Refact.ai solution: Generated smart contracts, helped deploy integrated with frontend.
After Refact.ai: Onchain progress tracking in days.

Breathwork feedback system built with Refact.ai Agent

The problem: Analyzing face data during breath holds to measure focus/restlessness.

Refact.ai Magic:
Read my existing face detection code
Researched breathing analysis techniques
Generated complete feedback algorithm
Created visualizations for user progress.

Result: Users see measurable improvement in focus and breath control.

Helped design a calming landing page too!

Why choose Refact.ai Agent for building your startup?

Refact.ai is a context aware AI for coding

Traditional autocomplete: Suggests variable names.
Refact.ai: Understands my codebase, suggests architectural improvements, top class scanning to source relevant docs and amend them as required.
Example: I am changing ImperfectBreath’s data structure, Refact.ai automatically updates 14 related components: quicktime!

Executes tasks autonomously

What I asked: “The breathing timer feels laggy on mobile”.
What Refact.ai did: Identified performance bottleneck → Refactored animation system → Generated optimized code → Created mobile-specific fallbacks.

Supports different languages, keeping context

ImperfectForm Stack: React + Typescript (ML) + Solidity (blockchain).
ImperfectBreath Stack: Vite + TensorFlow.js + Node.js + Supabase.

Refact.ai seamlessly switches between all languages, maintaining context across the entire stack.

RAG + Context is the secret sauce

Refact.ai Agent uses Retrieval-Augmented Generation to understand not just what I’m coding, but why. It reads my commit history, understands my coding patterns, and anticipates my needs.

Example: While building ImperfectBreath’s IP registration system, Refact.ai noticed I was building user authentication and automatically suggested integrating it with the breathing session tracking — something I hadn’t thought of and was grateful for the assistance.

AI Agent that guarantees data privacy

Both apps handle sensitive data:

• ImperfectForm: Biometric pose data
• ImperfectBreath: Breathing patterns and health metrics.

Refact.ai self-hosted deployment means your code never leaves my environment. No data leaks, no vendor lock-in, full control.

Development speed: Before vs After using AI Agent

ImperfectForm:

• Pose detection setup: 2 weeks → 2 days
• Blockchain integration: 1 month → 3 days
• UI/UX polish: 2 weeks → 4 days
• Bug fixes: **Ongoing → Proactive prevention.

ImperfectBreath:

• Face detection: 1 week → 1 day
• Breathing analytics: 3 weeks → 5 days
• Progress tracking: 2 weeks → 2 days
• AI feedback system: Unknown timeline → 4 days.

What’s next

ImperfectForm: Advanced pose corrections for 15+ exercises, Social features for form challenges, Trainer marketplace integration.

ImperfectBreath: IP registration blockchain, Creator monetization tools, Personalized breathing programs.

New projects: Refact.ai’s speed unlocked bandwidth for 3 more wellness apps in development TBA. Have an ambitious plan to have a suite of “imperfect” verticals, helping users get less imperfect every day.

Use AI to build your startup. Refact Agent makes it faster and easier.

If you’re building solo: Refact.ai levels the playing field. Complex projects become manageable. Refact.ai mentors and codes alongside you.

If you’re privacy-conscious: Self-hosting gives you enterprise-grade security without enterprise costs.

Refact.ai turned two ambitious ideas into working applications. It didn’t just write code — it understood my vision, anticipated problems, and delivered solutions I wouldn’t have thought of.
The future of development isn’t human vs AI. It’s human + AI building amazing things together!

Try Refact.ai Agent: VS Code, JetBrain.
Follow my journey: ImperfectForm.fun, ImperfectBreath.