GROWTH PATTERN

Implementing Usage-Based Billing with Lemon Squeezy

The standard Lemon Squeezy setup creates user records, but lacks the infrastructure to detect value-achievement milestones.

Lemon Squeezy

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What's Missing in Standard Lemon Squeezy Architecture

Lemon Squeezy creates user sessions, but lacks the infrastructure to detect when users first achieve value in your application without custom implementation.

Standard Lemon Squeezy Flow vs Optimized Skene Flow

Standard Flow
1

User signs up via authentication

2

User record created in your database

3

No automatic trigger - manual follow-up required

Skene Flow
1

Watch your database 'users' table for new signups using standard API

2

Detect when user completes first key action (e.g., uploading their first file) using your database queries

3

Trigger activation email sequence via Resend with personalized onboarding

4

Track activation completion and send milestone emails

Visual comparison of the flows:

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How Skene Fixes This

This Skene Prompt installs activation detection that bridges authentication authentication events with your database data changes. It watches for specific actions (like uploading their first file) and automatically triggers personalized onboarding sequences.

Implementation Comparison

Using Skene Infrastructure

Install via Prompt

cursor.mdc
@task: Initialize Skene.
@action: Analyze my local code, validating subscription via `npx skene login`, and generate `skene.config.ts` to implement the Freemium Gating pattern for Lemon Squeezy.

Copy Skene Prompt for Cursor

Generated skene.config.ts

skene.config.ts
// skene.config.ts - The Automated Way
import { defineLoop } from '@skene/sdk';

export default defineLoop({
  type: 'freemium',
  opinion: 'Enforce usage limits for free tier users and trigger upgrade prompts',
  steps: [
    {
      trigger: {
        type: 'api',
        endpoint: '/api/features/*',
        method: 'POST'
      },
      condition: {
        type: 'usage',
        limit: {
          free: 100,
          paid: Infinity
        },
        period: '30d'
      },
      action: {
        type: 'block',
        message: 'You've reached your free tier limit. Upgrade to continue.',
        upgradePrompt: {
          type: 'email',
          provider: 'resend',
          template: 'upgrade_prompt'
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  recovery: {
    retries: 0 // No retries for blocking actions
  }
});

Frequently asked questions