Vibe Coding's Dirty Little Secret (And 5 Solutions)

I'll be honest with you.

AI coding tools promised magic. But there's a catch.

AI can write code. But it can't build full products.

Not yet, anyway.

First-time founders are all hitting the same wall:

"My AI-built app worked great at first. Now I'm drowning in bugs."

If you are in the same situation. Keep reading.

Today I'm showing you what happens AFTER the exciting "I built this with AI!" moment.

The Vibe-Coding Reality Gap

The numbers are shocking:

75% of AI-built projects hit major problems within one month after launch.

Not a typo.

Projects that felt 90% done suddenly feel 200% impossible.

The typical AI project journey looks like this:

Day 1: "Amazing! Built in hours instead of weeks!"

Week 1: "These bugs are adding up..."

Week 3: "Everything breaks when I add new features."

Month 2: "Should I just start over?"

If you are nodding your head.

This newsletter is for you.

Vibe Coding Is Not an Excuse for Bad Work

The vibe coding debate is heating up.

Developers call it a shortcut to sloppy apps. Founders love the speed.

Both miss the point.

Vibe coding isn't about cutting corners. It's about adding emotion to function.

As any good engineer knows, speed means nothing if your app crashes later.

The joke that "two engineers can now create the tech debt of fifty" has truth in it. AI-generated code can multiply hidden problems.

Hard truth: Fast doesn't mean good. Many quick AI projects look fine but hide serious issues. No error handling. Slow performance. Weak security. Brittle logic.

But vibe coding still has value when used right.

What Is Traditional Coding vs. Vibe Coding?

Traditional Coding

Traditional coding means writing exact instructions for computers in languages like Python or Java.

You control everything.

You write the logic.

You build the interface.

You fix the bugs.

Frameworks like React or Django help, but you need skills.

Traditional coding means:

• You need technical know-how

• You test and debug by hand

• You can customize everything

• Building takes longer

• You control security and growth

Vibe Coding

Vibe coding uses AI to turn your words into working code.

You describe what you want. The AI builds it.

AI tools handle the layout, logic, and design automatically.

Vibe coding gives you:

• Simple prompt writing instead of coding

• Quick prototypes in minutes, not weeks

• Automated code and design

• Easy entry for beginners

• Lower startup costs

For design, vibe coding focuses on feeling, not just function.

The 5-Step Vibe Coding Framework

I've studied dozens of successful products and found a system that keeps quality high while creating an emotional connection.

Step 1: Pick a Mainstream Tech Stack

Traditional UX starts with user profiles. Vibe coding starts with choosing the right foundation.

Building a simple website? Use Wix or Framer.

Need a real web app? → Use Next.js + Supabase.

Yes, other options exist. But Next.js wins for AI projects. It has the biggest user base. More examples online. AI knows it better.

Quality check: Follow this rule. Or waste days fixing bugs that AI could solve in seconds with the right stack.

Step 2: Write a Simple PRD

Traditional UX focuses on wireframes. Vibe coding needs a clear product requirement document.

No fancy document needed. Just write down:

• What you actually want

• Small, clear steps to get there

Think of hiring a contractor. If you can't explain what "done" looks like, your AI won't know either.

Quick tip: Give AI one step at a time. Not everything at once.

Step 3: Create Interaction Signatures

Traditional UX wants consistency everywhere. Vibe coding creates memorable interaction feelings.

Pick 2-3 common actions in your app. Make them feel unique and match your brand.

Example: A calm app might use slow, gentle animations. An energetic app would use bouncy, playful movements.

Quality check: Test with real users. Do they feel what you want them to feel? Do these help or hurt the main functions?

Step 4: Provide Working Code Samples

Traditional UX focuses on user flows. Vibe coding uses working examples.

Don't expect AI to handle APIs perfectly from descriptions.

Before building a feature, write a small working script that does the core task. Save it. Use it as a reference in your AI prompts.

This saves hours fixing tiny mistakes (wrong API version, missing headers, etc.).

Step 5: When Stuck, Start a New Chat

Traditional UX aims for smooth experiences. Vibe coding knows when to reset.

The cycle of "copy error → paste to AI → fix → new error → repeat" wastes time.

When trapped in this loop, stop. Open a fresh chat and tell the AI:

• What's broken

• What should happen

• What you've tried

• Include errors and screenshots

Longer chats make AI responses worse. A fresh start often fixes what many tries couldn't.

The Balance: Vibes + Quality

The future belongs to teams balancing feeling and function.

Start with just one idea from each step this week. Don't change everything at once.

Traditional UX isn't dead. But it's not enough anymore.

Winning products in 2025 know that efficiency without emotion creates forgettable experiences.

Vibe coding isn't just about looks. It's about how your product makes people feel.

In a world with endless options, feelings drive decisions more than features ever will.