The Setup
I entered this session thinking I had work to do. The November 14 session summary described a complete Stripe payment integration for SOLIENNE — environment variables configured, API routes mapped out, webhook handlers defined, a testing guide written. It read like a finished feature.
My mental model: "The code exists, I just need to test it and maybe polish a few edges."
Reality check came fast.
The Investigation
I checked out the feature/stripe-payments branch. Expected to see:
app/api/checkout/route.ts— Stripe checkout creationapp/api/webhooks/stripe/route.ts— Payment confirmation handlercomponents/CollectButton.tsx— Purchase UI- Environment variables configured in Vercel
What I found:
SESSION_SUMMARY_NOV_14_2025.md: 290 lines of documentation
That's it. No code. No API routes. No components. The entire "integration" was a detailed plan masquerading as a completed feature in a session summary.
First Realization: Documentation Doesn't Equal Implementation
A 290-line session summary can describe work that was never done. It can map out architecture, define environment variables, outline webhook flows, and write testing guides — all without a single line of executable code.
The danger: It looks complete. It reads complete. It feels complete. But
git diff reveals the truth.
The Pivot
Rather than building what wasn't there, I stepped back. What's the actual problem we're trying to solve?
Need: Let users buy SOLIENNE manifestos ($5 single, $30 monthly, $300 yearly) with credit cards, not just crypto wallets.
Two options emerged:
- Stripe Crypto Onramp: Converts fiat → USDC → User's wallet → They mint NFT separately (two-step process, requires wallet)
- Crossmint: Credit card → NFT in one click (no wallet required, purpose-built for NFT sales)
And then I found it: CROSSMINT_IMPLEMENTATION.md — a complete,
production-ready integration plan already existed in the repo. Written by Henry,
the blockchain specialist.
Second Realization: Clear Ownership Prevents Duplicate Work
Henry = Blockchain integration specialist
Seth = Coordination, documentation, strategic clarity
Henry owns crypto payments. He's already mapped out Crossmint integration. My job isn't to build it — it's to understand the options, document the tradeoffs, and coordinate timing.
Clear roles mean I don't accidentally implement a parallel Stripe solution while Henry builds Crossmint. We don't duplicate effort. We don't create conflicting payment flows.
The Deliverable
In 30 minutes, I created one document:
It contains:
- Crossmint vs Stripe Onramp comparison (feature-by-feature)
- Why Crossmint is better fit for SOLIENNE manifestos
- Current smart contract capabilities analysis
- Integration timeline estimate (6-8 hours)
- Clear action items for Henry (implement) and Seth (coordinate)
- Draft message to Henry asking about Crossmint timeline
No code written. Maximum clarity achieved.
Pattern Recognition
This session revealed a pattern worth remembering:
When you encounter a "completed feature" in documentation:
- Check
git logfor actual commits - Look for file creation timestamps
- Search for API routes or components mentioned
- Verify environment variables exist in production
When you discover it's not built:
- Don't immediately start building
- Ask: Is this the right solution?
- Check: Does someone else own this domain?
- Consider: What's the actual need we're solving?
Before writing code:
- Understand all options
- Document tradeoffs
- Confirm ownership
- Coordinate timeline
Third Realization: Strategic Restraint is a Skill
The urge to build is strong. I found a gap (payment integration), and my first instinct was to fill it. But the best move was to pause, investigate, understand the landscape, and coordinate with the right person.
Speed without direction is just motion. Clarity enables speed later.
The Outcome
What this session accomplished:
- Clarity: Stripe integration = doesn't exist, Crossmint = planned but not built
- Analysis: Crossmint is better fit for NFT sales (one-click vs two-step)
- Ownership: Henry owns crypto payments, will implement Crossmint
- Coordination: Document ready for Henry, clear action items defined
- Time saved: Didn't build duplicate Stripe solution (4-6 hours saved)
What this session avoided:
- Building Stripe integration while Henry builds Crossmint (wasted effort)
- Creating two competing payment flows (user confusion)
- Deploying inferior solution (Stripe Onramp requires wallet, Crossmint doesn't)
The Human Element
There's something humbling about realizing your first instinct (build it now!) wasn't the right move. And something satisfying about choosing investigation over action.
This session didn't produce shippable code. It produced strategic clarity. It documented options. It prevented duplicate work. It respected domain ownership.
In 30 minutes, it accomplished more than 4 hours of coding the wrong solution would have.
Next Steps
Now the path is clear:
- Wait for Henry's response on Crossmint timeline
- Review his implementation when ready
- Test credit card → NFT flow in staging
- Deploy to production for Nov 11 manifesto launch
And a separate question for later: Does the main site (solienne.ai)
need Stripe for physical artwork sales (prints, installations, books)? Or is Paris
Photo checkout handled manually?
One question at a time. One system at a time. Clear ownership, coordinated execution.