Best Practices

Vibe Coding Best Practices: Let AI Handle the Boring Stuff

Focus on what matters. Delegate the rest to AI.

BORING TASKS Boilerplate Tests Documentation CRUD operations AI YOU FOCUS ON Architecture Business Logic User Experience Creative Solutions

What Tasks Should AI Handle?

The best vibe coders know when to delegate. Here are tasks that AI excels at:

Boilerplate Code

API endpoints, database models, form validation, error handling patterns.

Unit Tests

Test generation, edge cases, mock data creation.

Documentation

JSDoc comments, README files, API documentation.

Refactoring

Code cleanup, pattern migrations, type additions.

Best Practice #1: Start with Clear Intent

Before typing anything, know what you want. The clearer your mental model, the better Claude can help.

# Good: Clear intent

"Create a UserService class that handles CRUD operations for users, includes email validation, and follows our existing service patterns in src/services/"

Best Practice #2: Iterate, Don't Restart

If Claude's first attempt isn't perfect, refine rather than start over. Claude remembers context and can improve on its work:

  • "Add input validation to this"
  • "Make this handle the error case where..."
  • "Refactor this to use async/await instead"

Best Practice #3: Use Natural Checkpoints

Don't let Claude write your entire application at once. Work in logical chunks:

  1. Define the data model
  2. Create the service layer
  3. Build the API endpoints
  4. Add tests
  5. Write documentation

Best Practice #4: Review at Boundaries

Review code at natural boundaries - after completing a feature, before merging, at the end of a session. Don't review every line in real-time; it breaks your flow.

Best Practice #5: Trust but Verify for Security

AI-generated code is generally safe, but always review security-critical areas:

  • Authentication and authorization logic
  • Database queries (SQL injection)
  • User input handling (XSS)
  • API keys and secrets management

Vibe Code from Anywhere

The best vibe coders aren't tied to their desks. Use Bridge Terminal to maintain your flow state from anywhere.

Download Bridge Terminal