Building Better Web Application: The importance of Software Engineering and the Risk of Vibe Coding

Ateh Precious — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 10:25:47 +0000

Introduction: Technology has become an important part of our everyday lives. Today, people depend on web applications to perform different activities such as online banking, shopping, school registration, communication and accessing information. These applications have made many activities easier, faster and more convenient. However, developing a successful web application involves more than simply writing code. Developers must ensure that their applications are secure, reliable, easy to use and capable of meeting users’ needs. This is where software engineering becomes important. Software engineering provides developers with systematic methods for planning, designing, developing, testing and maintaining software applications. With the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), creating applications has become easier through an approach commonly known as vibe coding. Although this approach can help developers save time, relying on AI-generated code without understanding, reviewing and testing it can introduce serious problems. This article discusses the importance of software engineering in web application development, the disadvantages of vibe coding and the dangers of developing web applications without following proper software engineering practices.
Understanding Software Engineering: Software engineering is the systematic application of engineering principles and methods to the development, operation, testing and maintenance of software. In simple terms, software engineering means following proper steps to build software that works correctly, meets users’ requirements and can be maintained over time. Software engineering involves several important activities;

-Requirement gathering: Understanding what users expect the application to do.

System design: Planning how the application will look and function. -Implementation: Writing and organizing the program code. -Testing: Checking the application to identify and correct errors. -Deployment: Making the application available to users.
Maintenance: Updating the application and correcting problems after release. These activities help developers produce quality software instead of rushing into coding without a clear plan.

Understanding Web Applications A web application (WebApp) is a software application that users access through a web browser, usually over the internet or an internal network. This article discusses the importance of software engineering in web application development, the disadvantages of vibe coding and the dangers of developing web applications without following proper software engineering practices. Understanding Software Engineering Software engineering is the systematic application of engineering principles and methods to the development, operation, testing and maintenance of software. In simple terms, software engineering means following proper steps to build software that works correctly, meets users’ requirements and can be maintained over time. Software engineering involves several important activities: Requirement gathering: Understanding what users expect the application to do. System design: Planning how the application will look and function. Implementation: Writing and organizing the program code. Testing: Checking the application to identify and correct errors. Deployment: Making the application available to users. Maintenance: Updating the application and correcting problems after release. These activities help developers produce quality software instead of rushing into coding without a clear plan.

Understanding Web Applications
A web application (WebApp) is a software application that users access through a web browser, usually over the internet or an internal network.

Unlike traditional desktop applications that may need to be installed on a computer, many web applications can be accessed directly through browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Safari.
Examples of web applications include:

Online banking platforms.
School registration portals.
E-commerce websites.
Social media platforms.
Online examination systems.
Email services. For example, when a student visits a university portal to register courses, check examination results or update personal information, the student is interacting with a web application. Because these applications often handle important information, their development requires proper planning, security and testing.

The Relevance of Software Engineering in Web Application Development Software engineering plays an important role in developing successful web applications. Some of its major benefits include the following: 4.1 Improved Security Security is one of the most important requirements of a web application. Many applications collect sensitive information, including usernames, passwords, contact details and financial information.

Software engineering encourages developers to identify security risks and apply appropriate protection measures. These include secure authentication, access control, input validation and data protection.

Without proper security practices, attackers may gain unauthorized access to users’ accounts or information.

4.2 Improved Reliability
A reliable web application should perform its intended functions correctly and consistently.
Software engineering encourages developers to test applications before releasing them. Testing helps identify errors that could cause the application to crash, produce incorrect results or fail when users need it.

4.3 Easy Maintenance and Updates
Web applications often require changes after they have been released. Developers may need to correct errors, improve performance or introduce new features.
When software is properly designed, documented and organized, developers can understand the code and make changes more easily.

4.4 Better User Experience
A successful application should be easy to understand and use.
Software engineering encourages developers to consider users’ needs during the design and development process. This helps produce applications with clear navigation, useful features and a simple interface.

4.5 Reduced Development Costs
Planning and testing help developers discover problems early before they become more expensive to correct.
Although software engineering requires time and effort, it can reduce unnecessary mistakes, repeated work and future maintenance expenses.
4.6 Teamwork and Collaboration
Large web applications are often developed by different people working together.
Software engineering provides methods for organizing tasks, documenting decisions and managing changes. This allows developers, designers, testers and project managers to work towards the same goal.

Understanding Vibe Coding Vibe coding is an approach to software development in which a person describes an application or feature using ordinary language and relies on an AI tool to generate the code. For example, a person may enter the following instruction into an AI coding assistant: “Create a school registration website where students can log in, register courses and view their examination results.” The AI tool may generate HTML, CSS, JavaScript and backend code to help build the application. This approach can make software development easier, especially for beginners and people who want to create prototypes quickly. However, the main concern is what happens when a developer accepts the generated code without understanding how it works or checking whether it is correct and secure.

AI should be treated as an assistant to developers, not as a complete replacement for software engineering knowledge and professional judgment.

Demerits of Vibe Coding Although vibe coding has advantages, it also has limitations that developers should understand.

6.1 Lack of Understanding
A developer may generate an entire application using AI without understanding the code.
When a problem occurs, the developer may struggle to identify its cause or find the correct solution.

6.2 Security Vulnerabilities

AI-generated code may contain security weaknesses, such as poor authentication, unsafe database queries or improper handling of user information.

If the developer fails to review and test the code, these weaknesses may become security risks.

6.3 Poor Code Quality
Sometimes AI tools generate code that is unnecessarily complicated, duplicated or poorly organized.
Such code can make an application difficult to understand, update and maintain.

6.4 Debugging Difficulties
Debugging means identifying and correcting errors in a program.
When developers do not understand the code generated by AI, finding and correcting errors can become difficult and time-consuming.

6.5 Overdependence on AI
Relying too much on AI can prevent beginners from developing important programming and problem-solving skills.
Developers need to understand programming concepts so that they can evaluate AI suggestions and make informed decisions.

6.6 Incorrect or Incomplete Results
AI tools do not always generate correct solutions. They may misunderstand instructions, produce incomplete features or use outdated approaches.

Therefore, generated code must always be checked before it is used in a real application.

Dangers of Developing Web Applications Without Software Engineering Practices Developing web applications without proper software engineering practices can create serious problems for both developers and users.

Some of these dangers include:
7.1 Data Breaches
Poor security practices may allow attackers to access private information stored in an application.
For example, a school registration portal with weak access controls may expose students’ personal information to unauthorized users.
7.2 Unauthorized Access
If an application has weak login and authentication mechanisms, attackers may gain access to accounts they do not own.
This can result in stolen information and misuse of user accounts.

7.3 Loss of Data
Without proper database management and backup procedures, important information may be lost due to system errors, accidental deletion or technical failures.

7.4 Application Failure
An application that has not been properly tested may stop working when many users access it at the same time.
For example, a school portal may crash during course registration when hundreds of students try to use it.

7.5 Financial Losses
Businesses may lose money when applications fail, expose customer information or require expensive repairs.

7.6 Loss of User Trust
Users expect applications to protect their information and perform their intended functions.
When an application repeatedly fails or exposes private information, users may lose confidence in the organization responsible for it.

These examples show that software engineering is not just about writing code. It is also about protecting users and ensuring that software can be trusted.

Best Practices for Developing Quality Web Applications

To develop secure and reliable web applications, developers should follow proper software engineering practices.
Some important practices include:

Understand the requirements: Identify what the application should do b…Such code can make an application difficult to understand, update and maintain.

6.6 Incorrect or Incomplete Results
AI tools do not always generate correct solutions. They may misunderstand instructions, produce incomplete features or use outdated approaches.
Therefore, generated code must always be checked before it is used in a real application.

Dangers of Developing Web Applications Without Software Engineering Practices: Developing web applications without proper software engineering practices can create serious problems for both developers and users.

Some of these dangers include:
7.1 Data Breaches:
Poor security practices may allow attackers to access private information stored in an application.
For example, a school registration portal with weak access controls may expose students’ personal information to unauthorized users.
7.2 Unauthorized Access:
If an application has weak login and authentication mechanisms, attackers may gain access to accounts they do not own.
This can result in stolen information and misuse of user accounts.
7.3 Loss of Data:
Without proper database management and backup procedures, important information may be lost due to system errors, accidental deletion or technical failures.
7.4 Application Failure:
An application that has not been properly tested may stop working when many users access it at the same time.
For example, a school portal may crash during course registration when hundreds of students try to use it.
7.5 Financial Losses:
Businesses may lose money when applications fail, expose customer information or require expensive repairs.
7.6 Loss of User Trust:
Users expect applications to protect their information and perform their intended functions.
When an application repeatedly fails or exposes private information, users may lose confidence in the organization responsible for it.
These examples show that software engineering is not just about writing code. It is also about protecting users and ensuring that software can be trusted.

Best Practices for Developing Quality Web Applications To develop secure and reliable web applications, developers should follow proper software engineering practices. Some important practices include:
Understand the requirements: Identify what the application should do b…Such code can make an application difficult to understand, update and maintain.

Dangers of Developing Web Applications Without Software Engineering Practices Developing web applications without proper software engineering practices can create serious problems for both developers and users.

7.2 Unauthorized Access
If an application has weak login and authentication mechanisms, attackers may gain access to accounts they do not own.
This can result in stolen information and misuse of user accounts.
7.3 Loss of Data:
Without proper database management and backup procedures, important information may be lost due to system errors, accidental deletion or technical failures.
7.4 Application Failure:
An application that has not been properly tested may stop working when many users access it at the same time.
For example, a school portal may crash during course registration when hundreds of students try to use it.
7.5 Financial Losses:
Businesses may lose money when applications fail, expose customer information or require expensive repairs.
7.6 Loss of User Trust:
Users expect applications to protect their information and perform their intended functions.
When an application repeatedly fails or exposes private information, users may lose confidence in the organization responsible for it.
These examples show that software engineering is not just about writing code. It is also about protecting users and ensuring that software can be trusted.

Best Practices for Developing Quality Web Applications To develop secure and reliable web applications, developers should follow proper software engineering practices.

Some important practices include:

Understand the requirements: Identify what the application should do 1. beginning development.
Plan and design properly: Create a system design that explains how the application will work.
Write clean code: Organize code in a way that makes it easy to understand and maintain.
Test regularly: Check the application for errors before making it available to users.
Apply security measures: Use secure authentication, access control and proper data protection.
Document the application: Keep records of important system features and development decisions.
Review AI-generated code: Understand, inspect and test code produced by AI before using it.
Maintain the application: Correct errors, install security updates and improve the system when necessary.
Following these practices helps developers build applications that meet users’ expectations and reduce avoidable risks.
Conclusion
Software engineering is an important part of web application development because it helps developers create applications that are secure, reliable, maintainable and useful to users.

Although modern AI tools and vibe coding have made it easier to generate code, they should not encourage developers to ignore important software engineering practices.
Building an application that simply works is not enough. It must also protect users’ information, handle errors properly and remain useful over time.
Developers should therefore combine modern AI tools with proper planning, system design, testing, security and maintenance.
Ultimately, the quality of a web application should not be measured only by how quickly it is created, but also by how safely, reliably and effectively it serves its users.

DEV Community: Ateh Precious

Building Better Web Application: The importance of Software Engineering and the Risk of Vibe Coding