Vibe Coding Best Practices

1Use AI Code Editors, Not App Builders

Avoid app builders like Bolt or Loveable. Instead, use professional AI code editors like Cursor or Windsurf.

Why: App builders create messy, hard-to-maintain code with limited customization. AI code editors give you full control while providing intelligent assistance.

2Start with a Great Starter Kit

Begin with a comprehensive starter kit that includes authentication, database setup, and essential features already configured.

Why: Starting from scratch wastes time on boilerplate code. A quality starter kit like Indie Kit provides a solid foundation with best practices built-in.

Look for starter kits with authentication, database integration, payment processing, and deployment configurations ready to go.

3Use Next.js for Better Security

Choose Next.js over plain React.js for your applications.

Why: Next.js is more popular, has better security features, built-in SEO optimization, and provides server-side rendering capabilities that plain React lacks.

4Use Server-Side Rendering for Data

Fetch data on the server side instead of directly from the client side (like directly from Supabase).

Why: While client-side fetching can save costs, improper RLS (Row Level Security) configuration can create vulnerabilities. Many "vibe coded" apps have this security flaw.

5Don't Use Supabase Directly - Use an ORM

Instead of using Supabase directly, use an ORM like Drizzle ORM or Prisma.

Why: ORMs provide type safety, better query building, migrations management, and reduce the risk of SQL injection attacks.

6Talk to the Community

If you don't know what you're doing, engage with the developer community and seek guidance.

Why: The community can help you avoid common mistakes and provide valuable insights from experienced developers.

7Iterate in Small Parts

Build and deploy small features incrementally instead of building the entire system at once.

Why: Building everything at once leads to security issues and bugs that you won't even know exist. Small iterations allow for better testing, feedback, and continuous improvement.