Vibe Coding: My Ultimate Checklist for Building Software with AI Magic

#webdev #vibecoding #ai

Hey everyone, I’m Patrick Udoh, a tech enthusiast who’s been recently diving headfirst into AI-assisted coding. Recently, I’ve been chatting with Grok (xAI’s super-smart AI) about “vibe coding” — that chill way of describing what you want in plain English and letting AI spit out the code. It’s like having a coding buddy who gets your vibe and handles the heavy lifting.

From brainstorming a simple to do list app to prepping my personal portfolio site, this process has been a game-changer. But let’s be real: without structure, vibe coding can turn into a chaotic mess. That’s why I created this ultimate checklist — a step-by-step standard procedure for any software project. It’s comprehensive, professional, and flexible, drawing from my convos with Grok on security (I’m paranoid about that), documentation (so I can pause and pick up later), and all the cool suggestions like notifications, analytics, and multi-language support.

In this article, I’ll share the full checklist, explain how it works, and tie it to my projects. If you’re a beginner like me or a pro looking for AI shortcuts, this is your blueprint. Let’s dive in!

What is Vibe Coding, Anyway?
Picture this: Instead of staring at a blank editor for hours, you just say, “Hey AI, build me a countdown timer that syncs across web, mobile, and desktop.” Boom — code appears. That’s vibe coding. It’s powered by tools like Codeium (free and awesome in VS Code) or GitHub Copilot, where natural language prompts generate code iteratively.

But without a plan, it’s easy to end up with buggy, insecure slop. That’s where my checklist comes in — it’s the structure I needed to turn vibes into viable apps. I built it based on real discussions: starting with a time management app idea (timers for speakers, passcode sync, AI drafting from PDFs), adding features like email invites and analytics, and ensuring security (no more “vibes I got was that it wasn’t secure”). It’s general enough for any project, like my upcoming portfolio site.

Pro tip: Always review AI output — it’s a tool, not a replacement. Use ESLint for linting and Snyk for security scans.

The Ultimate Vibe Coding Checklist
This checklist has 10 phases and 37 items, covering everything from ideation to scaling. It’s designed for VS Code with free tools, but adaptable. Each phase includes descriptions, example prompts (for Codeium or similar), and suggestions (including ones from my chats, like verb-like app naming and offline support).

Setup Instructions
Before starting:

Install VS Code with extensions: Codeium (AI prompts), ESLint (quality), Snyk (security), GitLens (version control), Markdown All in One (docs), Prettier (formatting).
Init Git: git init, create .gitignore for secrets.
Iterate small: Prompt AI one feature at a time, validate, commit.
Rules file: Create rules.md to standardize AI code (e.g., <400 lines/file, DRY principles).

Phase 1: Ideation and Requirements Gathering
Get the big picture right.

Core Idea and User Personas
Describe the project, users, features, and edge cases.
Example Prompt: “Define a software project: Create 3–5 user personas and list 5–10 core features. Include edge cases like network failures.”
Suggestion: Brainstorm inclusively (e.g., multi-language for diverse users); test ideas with quick prototypes.
Validate Feasibility
Check tech, time, and competitors.
Example Prompt: “Suggest a tech stack and estimate build time. List 3 competitors.”
Suggestion: Factor in costs and sustainability (e.g., free tiers like Supabase).
Non-Functional Requirements
Set performance and compliance goals.
Example Prompt: “Define requirements: <1s load time, WCAG accessibility, GDPR compliance.”
Suggestion: Include ethical AI (e.g., bias-free parsing).

Phase 2: Project Setup and Planning
Lay the groundwork.

Tech Stack
Choose tools.
Example Prompt: “Recommend stack: Frontend, backend, database.”
Suggestion: Prioritize AI-friendly (e.g., TypeScript); include CI/CD early.
Version Control
Set up Git.
Example Prompt: “Create repo structure and .gitignore.”
Suggestion: Use branches for features; template commits.

6.Markdown Docs
Create docs.
Example Prompt: “Generate README.md, CHANGELOG.md, DEVELOPMENT.md.”
Suggestion: Add CONTRIBUTING.md; auto-gen from code.

Milestones Plan phases. Example Prompt: “Break into 3–5 milestones with timelines.” Suggestion: Use Agile; track with GitHub Issues.

Phase 3: Design and Architecture
Blueprint the system.

System Architecture
Map components.
Example Prompt: “Design architecture with diagram.”
Suggestion: Use microservices; include gateways.
Database Schema
Define data models.
Example Prompt: “Design schema with tables and indexes.”
Suggestion: Normalize; plan migrations.
API Design
Define interfaces.
Example Prompt: “Design REST API with endpoints.”
Suggestion: Use OpenAPI; add limiting/auth.
UI/UX Wireframing
Sketch interfaces.
Example Prompt: “Generate wireframes with responsive design.”
Suggestion: Add animations, multi-language; user-test.

Phase 4: Security Standards
Build secure from the start.

Authentication/Authorization
Secure access.
Example Prompt: “Implement JWT and bcrypt.”
Suggestion: Add MFA; OAuth for logins.
Input Validation
Prevent attacks.
Example Prompt: “Sanitize inputs for XSS/SQL.”
Suggestion: Validate client/server; use Joi.
Encryption
Secure data.
Example Prompt: “Configure HTTPS and AES-256.”
Suggestion: Rotate keys; use TLS 1.3.
Rate Limiting
Stop abuse.
Example Prompt: “Limit requests per IP.”
Suggestion: Add CAPTCHA; monitor patterns.
Dependency Scanning
Check vulnerabilities.
Example Prompt: “Generate package.json with audit instructions.”
Suggestion: Automate with Dependabot.
OWASP Compliance
Follow standards.
Example Prompt: “Ensure Top 10 compliance; create checklist.”
Suggestion: Pen-test regularly; use SAST/DAST.

Phase 5: Development / Coding
Create the code.

Frontend Development
Build UIs.
Example Prompt: “Generate component with responsive design.”
Suggestion: Use libraries like Shadcn; progressive enhancement.
Backend Development
Server logic.
Example Prompt: “Create CRUD APIs.”
Suggestion: Loose coupling; serverless where possible.
Integration
Connect services.
Example Prompt: “Integrate email API.”
Suggestion: Env vars for keys; monitor performance.
AI Rules File
Standardize AI.
Example Prompt: “Generate rules.md for code standards.”
Suggestion: Prompting guidelines; treat as drafts.
Code Review
Refine code.
Example Prompt: “Review for DRY and simplicity.”
Suggestion: Peer/AI reviews; linters in PRs.

Phase 6: Testing
Ensure reliability.

Unit Testing
Test components.
Example Prompt: “Write unit tests for core feature.”
Suggestion: 80% coverage; TDD approach.
Integration Testing
Test flows.
Example Prompt: “Generate integration tests for user flow.”
Suggestion: Mock services; automate in CI.
Security Testing
Find vulnerabilities.
Example Prompt: “Script for OWASP ZAP scans.”
Suggestion: SAST/DAST; manual pen-testing.
Performance Testing
Optimize speed.
Example Prompt: “Add caching; test concurrency.”
Suggestion: Use JMeter; profile bottlenecks.

Phase 7: Documentation and Logging
Make it understandable.

Inline Documentation
Comment code.
Example Prompt: “Add JSDoc to functions.”
Suggestion: Auto-gen API docs with JSDoc.
API Documentation
Document interfaces.
Example Prompt: “Create OpenAPI YAML.”
Suggestion: Swagger UI for interactive docs.
Update Logs
Track changes.
Example Prompt: “Update CHANGELOG.md for new feature.”
Suggestion: Semantic versioning; auto-gen from commits.

Phase 8: Deployment
Go live.

CI/CD Pipeline
Automate workflows.
Example Prompt: “Create GitHub Actions workflow.”
Suggestion: Artifact deployment; rollback strategies.
Hosting Setup
Configure production.
Example Prompt: “Generate hosting config.”
Suggestion: Docker for consistency.

Phase 9: Monitoring and Maintenance
Keep it running.

Error Monitoring
Track issues.
Example Prompt: “Integrate Sentry.”
Suggestion: Alerts to Slack; context in logs.
Backups
Recover data.
Example Prompt: “Script for daily backups.”
Suggestion: Cron jobs; off-site storage.
User Feedback Loop
Gather insights.
Example Prompt: “Integrate PostHog analytics.”
Suggestion: In-app surveys; statistical analysis.

Phase 10: Iteration and Scaling
Improve and grow.

A/B Testing
Experiment features.
Example Prompt: “Set up A/B test for UI.”
Suggestion: Optimizely; statistical significance.
Refactor for Vibe Debt
Clean code.
Example Prompt: “Refactor for DRY.”
Suggestion: Regular sprints; code metrics tools.
Scale and Optimize
Handle growth.
Example Prompt: “Add pagination and caching.”
Suggestion: Auto-scaling; Prometheus monitoring.