Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
Vibe coding works best in tiny steps, not big specs.
Persistent AI documentation eliminates re-ramp time.
Git, backups, and exports are critical safety nets.
This is not my first vibe coding rodeo. I previously did a project using OpenAI's Codex with great success. But it was a project of a different scope. That was adding new add-on modules for a WordPress plug-in. This is using Claude Code to build an entire, complex iPhone application from scratch.
Also: 10 ChatGPT Codex secrets I only learned after 60 hours of pair programming with it
In this article, I'll share with you 10 lessons that came from the two-week period during which I did most of the coding on my iPhone app. If you want to learn more details about the app itself, feel free to point your browser to this article.
As a super-quick background, my app uses NFC tags and photos to help me manage 3D printer filament in my Fab Lab. It tracks 100+ spools across 20 storage shelves, eight machines (with 26 individual spool holders), and another five or so work surfaces. It's designed for a super-fast workflow so if a spool moves from one machine or location to another, the database can be updated with a simple tap of my iPhone on the spool and the destination.
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