Hey devs, let's talk about a trend we're all seeing more of. A founder gets a brilliant idea, has an immaculate vibe, and heads to ChatGPT. They type: "build me a TikTok clone in React and Node.js."
The AI responds. Code appears. They copy, paste, run it, and something happens. This is vibe coding, the art of generating code through intention and AI. It feels like magic to them. To us? It's often the precursor to a very frustrating support ticket.
"We have a working prototype, just need a dev to add a few features and fix some small bugs."
Sound familiar?
The Client's Allure: Why Vibe Coding is So Seductive
We can't blame them. The appeal for a non-technical founder is huge:
Prototyping at Warp Speed: It's fantastic for stiching together a quick MVP or a clickable mockup to validate an idea. They can see their concept, which is powerful.
Bridging the Communication Gap: Instead of trying to describe a complex UI component, they can now generate a rough code example to show us. It moves the conversation from "I want a cool menu" to "I want a menu like this snippet."
Democratizing Development: It feels empowering. It lowers the barrier to entry and lets them participate in the creation process.
The vibe is strong. They get a functional-looking prototype. Excitement builds. But then, the music stops.
The Inevitable Hangover: When npm start Isn't Enough
This is when we get the call. We git clone the repo and open the codebase. What we find is rarely a foundation. It's a Leaning Tower of Pasta—Spaghetti Code with AI Sauce.
*Here’s what we actually see:
*
Architectural Anarchy: Zero separation of concerns. Business logic is tangled with UI rendering. There's no MVC, no service layers, no adherence to the conventions of frameworks like Laravel or Spring Boot that we rely on for sanity and scalability.
Security Nightmare Fuel: SQL injection vulnerabilities wide enough to drive a truck through. API keys hardcoded in config.js and committed to GitHub. Non-existent input validation or sanitization. It's not a project; it's a pentester's happy hour.
The Scalability Illusion: It works perfectly for one user on localhost. But the database queries are N+1 nightmares, there's no caching layer, and the idea of load balancing has never even been whispered. It will fall over with the first dozen concurrent users.
Debugging Purgatory: When something breaks, there are no comments, no tests, no logical flow, and no original "developer" to ask. Tracing an error through a labyrinth of AI-generated functions is a special kind of torture.
The initial "savings" from vibe coding vanish instantly. The cost to refactor, secure, and scale a vibe-coded prototype into a production-ready application is often 3x-5x what it would have cost to build it correctly from the start.
Reframing the Tool: Vibe Coding for Developers, by Developers
But here's the plot twist: Vibe coding isn't our enemy. It's a powerful new pair programming partner if we use it correctly.
The key is that it's a tool for us, not a replacement for us. I use AI every day to augment my work as a full-stack dev (PHP/Laravel, Java/Spring Boot, JS):
Killing Boilerplate: "Generate a DTO class in Java for a User with these fields." Why write it manually?
Supercharged Debugging: "Explain this cryptic Laravel QueryException and suggest two fixes." It's like instantly rubber-ducking with a senior dev.
Learning New Tech: "Show me how to implement a WebSocket broadcast in Spring Boot vs. Node.js." It accelerates research and exploration.
Writing Tests: "Generate a PHPUnit test for this service method." A tedious but critical task, now automated.
Documentation: "Create a JSDoc comment for this complex function." Done.
I use the "vibe" to handle the repetitive, the tedious, and the initial research. This frees up my most valuable asset: my human expertise. I focus on:
System Architecture & Design Patterns: Is this a microservice or monolith? Should we use a repository pattern?
Complex Problem-Solving: Truly understanding the business logic and edge cases.
Security Auditing: Actively looking for vulnerabilities the AI would never see.
Performance Optimization: Profiling, indexing, and caching strategies.
The Conclusion: Guide the Vibe, Don't Fight It
Our role is evolving. We need to guide our clients and founders.
Encourage them to use vibe coding for what it's good for: ideation, prototyping, and communication. But then, we must firmly explain that shipping production software requires an architect—it requires us.
We translate the vibe into structure. We turn the prototype into a product. We are the essential bridge between an AI's output and a reliable, scalable, and secure application.
So, the next time a client shows up with a vibe-coded prototype, don't sigh. See it as the best spec you've ever been given. Then, estimate the work to build it properly.
What about you? How are you using (or dealing with) AI-generated code? Horror stories? Success tales? Let's discuss in the comments!
About the Author:
Imran Shiundu is a versatile Full-Stack Developer specializing in modern web technologies. With expertise spanning HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP-Laravel, and Java Spring Boot, he builds robust, scalable solutions. He is the founder of several innovative platforms, including 42Rides (a social car-sharing platform), WealthLink (a SACCO & Chama management system), and Brick4Bits ( a platform connecting startups, investors, and freelancers). Currently, he is honing his low-level programming skills as a student at KOOD/Jõhvi and serves as the CTO of Tijona Limited. An alumnus of the Power Learn Project Africa, Imran is passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems across the African continent and beyond.
Connect with him: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imranshiundu/
Visit his website: https://imranshiundu.netlify.app/
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