Vibe Coding
Scope
Covers
- Timeboxed, AI-assisted rapid prototyping (“vibe coding”) to produce a functional demo (not slides)
- Turning a rough idea into a buildable prototype spec + task board + prompt pack
- A tight iteration loop: generate → run → verify → adjust → log decisions
- “Build tools to build the thing” when it meaningfully speeds up the demo (timeboxed)
- Safe use of coding agents: least privilege, no secrets, small diffs, validation, rollback
When to use
- “Vibe code a working prototype we can demo in 30–90 minutes.”
- “Replace this Figma concept with a clickable prototype.”
- “I’m not an engineer—help me build a small app/tool with AI and ship a demo.”
- “Turn this AI feature idea into a proof-of-concept with a clear build loop and demo script.”
When NOT to use
- You need a production-grade system, hardening, scaling, or security review (use
building-with-llms+ engineering process). - You need upstream problem framing, strategy, or PRD-level alignment (use
problem-definition,writing-prds). - The work is high-stakes/irreversible (payments, auth, medical, legal, safety-critical) without human owners and reviews.
- The request is “build anything” with no demo target; do intake first and narrow to one scenario.
Inputs
Minimum required
- Prototype goal: what should a user be able to do in the demo (1–3 “happy path” tasks)
- Target user + context (who uses it, where it fits)
- Timebox (e.g., 30/60/90 minutes) + demo audience (internal, customer, exec)
- Platform preference (web app, mobile, CLI, spreadsheet, etc.) and constraints (privacy, data sensitivity)
- Data/integrations: mock data ok? any APIs needed? (default to mock)
Missing-info strategy
- Ask up to 5 questions from references/INTAKE.md (3–5 at a time).
- If details remain missing, proceed with explicit assumptions and offer 2–3 options (e.g., mock vs real data; simple UI vs polished).
- If asked to run commands or write/modify files, request confirmation, keep changes in a dedicated folder, and include rollback guidance.
Outputs (deliverables)
Produce a Vibe Coding Prototype Pack (in chat; or as files if requested), in this order:
- Vibe Coding Brief (goal, demo scenario, non-goals, constraints, timebox)
- Prototype Spec (user flow, screens/components, data model, acceptance criteria, “fake vs real” decisions)
- Prompt Pack (copy/paste prompts to drive the coding agent safely and efficiently)
- Build Plan + Task Board (vertical slices with checks/tests per slice)
- Demo Script + Runbook (how to run, how to demo, what to say, what to avoid)
- Risks / Open questions / Next steps (always included)
Templates: references/TEMPLATES.md
Workflow (7 steps)
1) Pick a single demo outcome (kill ambiguity fast)
- Inputs: Initial idea, timebox, target audience.
- Actions: Write a one-sentence demo promise (“In 60 minutes we will demo…”) + 3–5 non-goals. Choose one “hero” scenario and what can be faked.
- Outputs: Draft Vibe Coding Brief.
- Checks: The demo promise is specific, observable, and fits the timebox.
2) Define the prototype’s contract (what exists, what’s mocked)
- Inputs: Demo scenario, platform preference, constraints.
- Actions: Specify the minimum user flow, screens/components, and data shape. Decide: mock data vs real data; stub integrations vs live.
- Outputs: Draft Prototype Spec.
- Checks: Acceptance criteria exist for each user-visible step; “fake vs real” is explicit.
3) Set the build loop + guardrails (how we’ll vibe code safely)
- Inputs: Repo/app context (if any), constraints, desired stack.
- Actions: Create a Prompt Pack that forces: small diffs, clear file list, run instructions, and “ask before risky actions.” Create a task board of 3–8 vertical slices.
- Outputs: Prompt Pack + Build Plan + Task Board.
- Checks: Every slice has a Definition of Done and a quick validation method (manual steps or tests).
4) Scaffold the thinnest runnable slice (end-to-end)
- Inputs: Prompt pack, chosen platform/stack, prototype spec.
- Actions: Generate a minimal skeleton that runs. Implement the hero path with mock data. Capture run commands and known limitations.
- Outputs: Runnable prototype + run notes (for the runbook).
- Checks: A fresh user can run it in ≤ 5 minutes; the hero path is demonstrable.
5) Iterate in vertical slices (generate → run → verify → log)
- Inputs: Task board, working prototype.
- Actions: For each slice: request a plan + diff, apply changes, run, verify against acceptance criteria, and record decisions/bugs. Avoid broad refactors; prefer incremental improvements.
- Outputs: Updated prototype + iteration notes.
- Checks: Each slice ends with a user-visible improvement and a validated run.
6) Optional: build a tool to build the thing (timeboxed)
- Inputs: Repeated friction (editing, generating, transforming content).
- Actions: If it reduces time-to-demo, vibe code a tiny helper tool (editor, generator, script) and immediately use it to advance the prototype.
- Outputs: Helper tool + note on how it accelerates the workflow.
- Checks: The helper tool saves time within the current timebox; otherwise cut it.
7) Package the demo + quality gate + handoff
- Inputs: Prototype + all draft artifacts.
- Actions: Write the demo script + runbook. Run references/CHECKLISTS.md and score with references/RUBRIC.md. Finalize Risks / Open questions / Next steps.
- Outputs: Final Vibe Coding Prototype Pack.
- Checks: A stakeholder can demo it without you; risks and next steps are explicit and owned.
Quality gate (required)
- Use references/CHECKLISTS.md and references/RUBRIC.md.
- Always include: Risks, Open questions, Next steps.
Examples
Example 1 (30–60 min prototype): “Use vibe-coding to build a demo-ready web prototype of an ‘AI meeting notes → action items’ tool. Mock the LLM output. Output the full Vibe Coding Prototype Pack.” Expected: brief + spec + prompt pack + task board + demo script; prototype plan defaults to mock data and a single hero flow.
Example 2 (non-engineer builder): “I’m a PM. Use vibe-coding to help me create a clickable prototype of an onboarding checklist app in 45 minutes. I need a demo script for my team.” Expected: tight scope, fake data, vertical slices, and a runbook optimized for demo reliability.
Boundary example: “Vibe code a production payments backend and deploy it.” Response: out of scope; propose a prototype-only approach (mock payments), identify required security/engineering owners, and recommend a separate production plan.