The Vibe Coding Workflow
AI coding becomes more reliable when the model is treated as an engineering collaborator rather than a one-shot code generator. Our loop is Define → Plan → Build → Prove → Ship.
1. Define
State the user problem, desired outcome, scope, constraints and acceptance criteria. Do not begin with a framework or a giant implementation prompt.
2. Plan
Make Claude Code, Codex or another coding agent inspect the existing codebase, dependencies and interfaces before changing files. Ask for a small, explicit implementation plan.
3. Build
Implement in small slices with checkpoints. Preserve working contracts, keep changes reviewable and separate unrelated work.
4. Prove
Verify with tests, screenshots, logs, edge cases and direct review. “The model says it is done” is not verification.
5. Ship
Deploy the smallest useful version, observe real behavior, collect feedback and feed that evidence into the next iteration.
Why this matters
Models change quickly. A disciplined workflow survives vendor changes because it is based on problem definition, controlled changes and evidence.