Does Skene work with Next.js + Neon + Clerk?

Yes! Skene is tool-agnostic and works with Next.js + Neon + Clerk and any tech stack. The Skene SDK integrates with your existing codebase by analyzing your database schema, API routes, and authentication setup. After running `npx skene init`, Skene automatically detects your stack and generates the appropriate configuration.

Is the manual implementation code secure?

The manual code shown above is a simplified example and has several security concerns: it lacks proper input validation, doesn't handle SQL injection risks, and has no rate limiting. Additionally, the polling approach creates unnecessary database load. Skene handles all of these concerns automatically with built-in security best practices, proper error handling, and optimized queries.

How long does it take to implement AI Activation manually vs with Skene?

Implementing AI Activation manually typically takes 2-3 days of development time, including setting up workers, writing database queries, handling edge cases, and testing. With Skene, you can install the same functionality in under 5 minutes by copying the prompt into Cursor or Claude Code. Skene automatically generates the `skene.config.ts` file and integrates with your existing infrastructure.

How to Fix Activation Loops in Next.js + Neon + Clerk Applications | Skene Growth Audit

What's Missing in Standard Next.js + Neon + Clerk Architecture

Clerk's webhooks fire after user actions complete, but there's no built-in way to detect when users first achieve value. Authentication works perfectly, but activation tracking requires custom implementation.

Standard Next.js + Neon + Clerk Flow vs Optimized Skene Flow

Standard Flow

1

User signs up via Clerk

2

User record created in Neon

3

No automatic trigger - manual follow-up required

Skene Flow

1

Watch Neon 'users' table for new signups using pg.connect()

2

Detect when user completes first key action (e.g., making their first API call) using Neon 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

The Skene setup for Next.js + Neon + Clerk watches Neon events and triggers activation workflows when users hit key milestones. It uses pg.connect() to send personalized onboarding sequences that guide users to their first value moment.

Implementation Comparison

Using Skene Infrastructure

Auto-managed state. Installed via Prompt.

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 Activation Loop pattern for Next.js + Neon + Clerk.

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: 'activation',
  opinion: 'Detect when users complete their first key action and trigger personalized onboarding',
  steps: [
    {
      trigger: {
        type: 'database',
        table: 'users',
        event: 'insert'
      },
      condition: {
        type: 'query',
        query: `SELECT * FROM user_actions WHERE user_id = $1 AND action_type = 'first_project_created'`,
        timeout: '5m'
      },
      action: {
        type: 'email',
        provider: 'resend',
        template: 'activation_welcome',
        personalization: {
          name: '{{user.name}}',
          activationLink: '{{user.activation_link}}'
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  recovery: {
    retries: 3,
    backoff: 'exponential'
  }
});