Written By: Rachael Ghobrial
In a meeting with one of our software managers this week, we started joking about how we should offer a “Vibe Check” after software has gone through some AI vibe coding. At first it was just a fun idea, but the more we talked about it, the more it felt like something real.
For those who haven’t run into the term yet, vibe coding is a phrase that came out of the AI world. The idea is simple. You describe what you want to build, the AI generates code, and you keep adjusting until it mostly works. It is quick, creative, and honestly kind of magical when you see it in action. People who don’t even consider themselves developers are suddenly able to put together apps, tools, and prototypes.
And here’s the thing, it really does work up to a point. I’ve seen teams get surprisingly far. A rough prototype becomes a working application, and suddenly the project feels like it’s almost ready to go live.
But then reality sets in. Getting an app across the finish line, from “this is running on my laptop” to “this is a live product people can use safely,” is still the hardest part of software development. That last mile is full of challenges that AI doesn’t really handle well yet. Teams run into problems with environments, security, performance, integrations, and preparing for the unexpected moments that happen in production.
Imagine being able to call in a team for a quick review before you hit deploy. A vibe check could answer questions like whether the code is really ready for production, whether there are hidden risks that could cause problems, and how close you are to launch compared to what is still missing.
Sometimes the answer might be that you are good to go. Other times the answer might be that you are close, but here are the things that could break if you launch tomorrow. Either way, the goal is clarity.
To me, that feels like the sweet spot where AI and human expertise work best together. AI helps you move fast and create. A vibe check helps you make sure your work is actually strong enough to stand up in the real world.
For clients, that could be the difference between a fun project that stays on the shelf and a live product that creates real value. And for software shops like ours, it is a new way to bring expertise into the process without slowing down the fun and speed that makes vibe coding so exciting.
