The hidden cost of "vibe coding": solo founders waste 40% of dev time on context-switching and rework. Here's how to reclaim it.
After watching dozens of AI‑coding "vocal" demos over the past six months, I've distilled a workflow that's refreshingly simple yet delivers outsized returns. A simple three-step workflow that transforms you and your AI from an ad-hoc duo into a well-oiled dev team. After trying various approaches myself, I'm hooked to a simple one, which is all about slowing down just a bit upfront to speed up later.
Here's the thing: building a startup as a solo founder means wearing all the hats - from product visionary and coder to QA tester and customer support. It's thrilling, but also like juggling flaming torches. Luckily, a new helper has jumped into the ring: AI coding assistants. These tools promise to be the tireless coding partner we always wished for. But if you've ever tried "vibe coding" (winging it with an AI at 2 AM), you know it can lead to messy tangents and the occasional loop of doom where the AI rewrites the same function five times.
Let's break it down, one by one.
Step 1: Chat Out a PRD (Product Requirements Document) with the AI
Begin by talking through what you want to build. Instead of diving straight into code, open a dialog with your AI and describe the feature in plain language. In essence, you're drafting a product requirements doc together, but in a casual, conversational way - more brainstorm than formal spec.
For example, you might say, "I want to build a to-do app that lets users set reminder alerts." The AI could then ask clarifying questions (Who are the users? Do we need login? What counts as a reminder?). After a few back-and-forths, a spec emerges outlining the app's purpose, key features, and constraints.
The beauty of writing a PRD conversationally is that you're forced to clarify your thinking before any code gets written. Plus, your AI partner can surface edge cases or suggest improvements you might've missed. By the end of this chat, you'll have a concise brief (your PRD) that serves as the North Star for development. Better yet, you can feed this context back into the AI when it's time to code so it knows exactly what you're trying to build and why.
Pro tip: Don't worry about perfection here. Focus on clarity and scope - what are we building, who is it for, and what must it do? You can adjust details later, but a solid PRD gives you a confident starting point.
Step 2: Break the PRD into a Structured Task List
Now that you and the AI have a game plan, it's time to turn that PRD into a development to-do list. Ask your AI to break the PRD into actionable tasks (dev tickets).
The AI might suggest tasks like:
Set up a database for tasks and reminders
Build a front-end form to add new tasks (with a date picker for reminders)
Implement a notification function to send reminders at the right times
Refine this list with the AI until each task is a bite-sized chunk of work. This task list is your roadmap. It keeps you laser-focused on one thing at a time and ensures no critical step gets overlooked.
Here's the thing: slowing down to make a task list will actually speed you up. With a clear list, you avoid the trap of bouncing between half-finished bits of code. You can even show the list to the AI before coding each part, giving it context about what's done and what's next. Modern AI dev tools have huge context windows, so they can keep your whole plan "in mind" as they help you.
Pro tip: Treat the AI's task breakdown as a draft, not the final word. Review and tweak the tasks with your own judgment. You're the founder with the vision; the AI is just helping map it out. Once you're happy with the plan, it's time for the fun part: coding!
Step 3: Code Each Task in Tandem with AI (Structured "Vibe Coding")
With your plan ready, you can finally start building - but you're not doing it alone. Now tackle each task one by one, essentially pair-programming with the AI. This is where Cursor - an AI-powered code editor - really shines. Keep the PRD and task list handy as context, and the AI will stay focused on the job at hand.
Grab the first task on the list and say to the AI, "Let's work on the database schema for tasks and reminders." Thanks to all that context, the AI already understands the goal. You could ask, "Create a simple PostgreSQL table for tasks with a reminder timestamp," and watch it generate the code in your editor. From there, it's a back-and-forth dance: the AI writes some code, you review and run it, then ask for tweaks or help to fix any bugs. This is vibe coding in action - it feels like jamming with a colleague.
Crucially, you're doing this systematically. Finish task one and get it working, check it off, then move to task two. The structure keeps both you and the AI on script. If something breaks, ask the AI to help debug ("Why aren't reminders sending?"), and it will suggest a fix. You'll rarely stay stuck for long, because your AI pair-programmer always has an idea or explanation to unblock you.
Remember, done is better than perfect. Get things working first instead of obsessing over pristine code. You can always refactor or optimize later with the AI's help. With each finished task, you're a step closer to a demo or launch - and thanks to your AI buddy, you got there faster than slogging through it solo.
The bottom line: AI won't replace your vision or leadership, but it can definitely multiply your output. With this 3-step workflow, you've turned a solo sprint into a relay race with an AI teammate. You give the AI direction and context; it gives you speed and execution. This approach shows that a single determined founder can now build what used to require a whole team.
So next time you get a burst of inspiration for a new feature or product, don't dive in blindly. Take a moment to chat it out, make a plan, and then vibe-code your way to a prototype. You'll be amazed at how much ground you can cover with an AI by your side - and you might even sleep a little more knowing your "co-founder" can handle those late-night coding sprints. This is exactly how high‑performance teams operate - the difference is that, as a solo founder, you'll lean on your AI sidekick/copilot and do it yourself. Don't sweat perfection; it never truly arrives, even with a five‑person crew.
Written by Dr Hernani Costa | Powered by Core Ventures
Originally published at First AI Movers.
Technology is easy. Mapping it to P&L is hard. At First AI Movers, we don't just write code; we build the 'Executive Nervous System' for EU SMEs.
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