Claude Code Builds Full Course Platform with Stripe, Certs
Lukas Margeriego watch the original →
the gist
Lukas prompts Claude Code to build Kajabi alternative: Payload CMS for users/courses/lessons/enrollments, Stripe payments with Vercel webhooks, MUX video embeds, Certifier badges at 50% completion and certs at 100%, Resend emails after 48h inactivity.
Platform Core with Payload CMS
Lukas opens an empty folder in Claude desktop app and prompts: "build me a course platform using Untitled UI components" with https://www.untitledui.com/react/integration/claude URL, plus "create four payload collections: users with role student or admin, courses, lessons, and enrollments." Specifies style: "minimal modern course platform aesthetic Maven meets Coursera light mode neutral indigo accent." Sets bypass permissions. Result includes public routes (landing page with hero/pricing/enroll CTA, courses list), protected dashboard, admin panel. Admin creates courses (title, slug, Unsplash image URL), lessons (linked to course), enrollments (user to course). Landing shows courses; enroll redirects if missing enrollment.
Payments and Video Delivery
Prompts Claude: "add the Stripe payment integration." Adds STRIPE_SECRET_KEY and STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET from Stripe test dashboard to .env. Deploys to Vercel via terminal vercel command, copies Vercel URL to Stripe webhook endpoint. Minimum payment 50¢ (tried 10¢, failed). Enroll flow: sign up, pay via Stripe, access dashboard.
Prompts: add lesson page with MUX video, text, mark complete; admin manages in panel. Uploads video to MUX dashboard/assets, copies playback ID to lesson. Adds rich text editor (commands for H1, paragraph, H2). Lesson page embeds MUX video, shows notes, completion checkbox updates progress bar.
Credentialing and Emails via MCP/API
Sets up Certifier.io (free tier 250 credentials): creates badge template (e.g., blue design, "Test Course Certified Professional"), certificate template (green, recipient name, signatures). Enables MCP server in Certifier settings.
Prompts Claude: "using Certifier apply my badge to users who complete more than 50% of the course curriculum." Completions trigger badge issuance (viewable/shareable to LinkedIn/X, verifiable OpenBadge Standard 3.0). Prompts for certificates on full completion.
For emails, creates Resend API key (notes MCP unsuitable for scheduled reminders). Prompts: "use resend API key to send users an email reminder when they are not active in the course for 48 hours." Claude drafts email: "Hey Lucas, it's been a couple of days since you last opened Test Course. Even 10 minutes a day keeps the momentum going." Triggers after 48h inactivity.
Admin and Full Flow
Admin panel manages users/courses/lessons/enrollments, manual free enrollments. Full flow: landing → course page (curriculum) → pay/enroll → dashboard (progress, chapters) → lessons (video/notes/complete) → 50% badge → 100% cert → share/verify. Deployed on Vercel, no SaaS fees vs. Kajabi $250/mo.