Vibe Coding with AI: Why Some Developers Struggle While Others Excel

There is a new trend in town and it is called: Vibe coding. Vibe coding is taking the developer world by storm, and platforms like Bolt.new and Lovable.dev make it easier than ever to generate functional code from just using your natural language prompts, using AI. Instead of manually writing every line of code, people with no developer background, now just provide their instructions, and AI handles the rest. Easy!

But here is the catch, some developers get great results, while others end up with messy, unusable code. Why? I am going to share the secret with you. The difference often comes down to how well they structure their AI prompts.

In this article, we will break down:

• Why the majority of developers struggle with vibe coding
• The strategies used by those who excel
• How writing better prompts (or using a tool like Onlift.co) can dramatically improve AI-generated code

If you have ever felt frustrated with vibe coding, this guide will show you how to level up your AI-assisted development skills.

Why Some Developers Struggle with Vibe Coding

While vibe coding tools are incredibly powerful, they require precision and clarity to deliver high-quality results. Without the right approach, developers often find themselves with messy, incomplete, or unusable code. Let us break down why some developers struggle with vibe coding.

1. Vague and Unstructured Prompts

The first and most common reason developers run into problems with vibe coding is simply not providing enough detail in their prompts.

AI, while impressive, lacks the ability to “guess” what you are really asking for. If you give a vague prompt, such as “Build me a website” or “Make a dashboard” the AI has to make its own assumptions, which often leads to bad or just generic results.

The key to effective vibe coding is giving the AI clear, structured prompts that reduce any ambiguity. Otherwise, you will end up spending more time fixing AI-generated errors than if you wrote the code yourself.

2. AI is Not a Mind Reader

It is essential to remember that AI does not have the intuition or ability to “fill in the gaps” the way a human developer can. If it has to do that, the AI has to multi-task within the same prompt, also something that is definitely not a strong suit of AI

Let us look at an example. If you ask the AI to “Create a login page,” it might generate a simple form for collecting a username and password. However, it might not include crucial features such as password encryption, security measures, or error handling. You will have to waste another prompt on that.

You need to explicitly mention every detail you want in the code. Otherwise, you risk missing critical elements that can compromise the functionality or security of the final product. And after all vibe coding is about not doing too much effort.

3. More Debugging, More Headaches

One of the most frustrating aspects of vibe coding is when a vague or unstructured prompt leads to low-quality output. Rather than saving time, developers often find themselves spending hours debugging AI-generated code.

This can become a vicious cycle, where you rewrite large portions of the code, causing delays and frustration. As a result, vibe coding no longer feels like a time-saving shortcut but rather a lengthy process of trial and error.

Why Some Developers Excel with Vibe Coding

On the flip side, some developers have mastered the art of vibe coding and are able to generate high-quality code with ease. The difference lies in how they approach the AI prompt-writing process. We are going to take a closer look at what exactly sets successful vibe coders apart.

1. They Treat AI Like an Intern Developer

Experienced vibe coders treat AI the way they would an intern developer on their team. They provide clear and specific instructions, knowing that the AI needs detailed guidance to perform at its best, and cannot think for themselves.

For example, instead of simply saying “Make a chatbot,” a more experienced developer will write something like:

“Create a chatbot using Python and OpenAI GPT-4 API. The bot should support text input, generate AI-powered responses, and log conversations in a PostgreSQL database. Use Flask for the backend and deploy on AWS Lambda.”

This level of specificity ensures that the AI understands exactly what is expected, resulting in a more functional and refined output.

2. They Break Down Tasks into Small Chunks

Another reason why some developers excel with vibe coding is that they break down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks.

Rather than asking the AI to generate an entire application in one go, successful developers will divide the project into smaller steps. For example, they might start by asking AI to generate the user interface, then move on to the backend logic, and later tackle optimizing performance.

By taking this modular approach, it becomes easier to troubleshoot and iterate on each component of the project, which ultimately leads to higher-quality results.

3. They Use Tools to Optimize Their Prompts

Not everyone has the time or experience to craft perfect AI prompts manually. That is where tools like Onlift.co come in.

Onlift helps developers automatically structure their prompts for better AI output. It transforms simple ideas into detailed, actionable instructions for AI, significantly reducing the trial and error process. Rather than struggling to write the perfect prompt from scratch, Onlift generates a structured prompt that is ready for AI processing.

For example, a developer may want to create a blog generator using AI. Instead of manually creating a long and complex prompt, they can input their key requirements into Onlift, and the tool will create a detailed, well-structured prompt that maximizes the chances of generating high-quality code.

How to Write Better AI Prompts (With or Without a Tool)

Even if you are not using a tool like Onlift, you can still improve your AI-generated code by following some basic principles when writing your prompts.

1. Follow This Simple Prompt Framework:

To ensure that you are getting the best possible results, use this simple framework when writing your prompts:

• Goal: What exactly do you want to build?
• Tech Stack: Which technologies or frameworks should be used (e.g., Node.js, React, Python)?
• Constraints: Any limitations or restrictions (e.g., no third-party libraries, a specific deployment method)?
• Expected Output: What should the final code look like, and what functionality should it include?

By being specific in each of these areas, you will drastically improve the quality of your AI-generated code.

2. Strong Prompt vs. Weak Prompt Example:

To illustrate how important a strong prompt is, we will compare a weak and a strong version:

• Weak prompt: “Make an API.”
• Strong prompt: “Create a RESTful API using Node.js and Express. It should include routes for user authentication (JWT-based) and store user data in MongoDB. Add rate-limiting middleware for security.”

The strong prompt provides the AI with the necessary details to ensure that the generated code is functional, secure, and up to developer standards.

3. Want to Skip the Guesswork? Use Onlift.co

Onlift takes simple ideas and transforms them into expert-level prompts that are ready for AI. This tool can help you write better instructions in seconds, saving you time and frustration while ensuring higher-quality code.

If you are tired of trial and error, Onlift is the solution for streamlining your vibe coding process and optimizing AI-generated code.

Final Thoughts: How to Master Vibe Coding

AI coding tools like Bolt.new and Lovable.dev are transforming the development landscape. But the real key to success lies in how you structure your prompts.

If you have been struggling with inconsistent AI-generated code, focus on:

• Writing clear, structured, and specific prompts
• Breaking projects into manageable chunks
• Using tools like Onlift.co to streamline prompt creation

By following these strategies, you will spend less time debugging and more time building.

Want to boost your vibe coding skills? Try Onlift.co and start writing better AI prompts today!