Vibe Coding Band-Aids

Spend enough time around consumer and enterprise tech and you'll encounter the following problem: a software vendor's wares don't work as described. It's inevitable. Support calls, screen-sharing sessions, Reddit posts, chats with AI tools, and a tsunami of emails all fail to resolve your issue.

That scenario is typical. On rare occasions, however, something remarkable happens: the vendor support rep admits that you're right. That is, your problem is no PICNIC.

Is Maybe the company eventually issues a patch that resolves your issue; maybe it doesn't. Over the years, I have seen Apple, Microsoft, and Notion admit that relatively minor bugs existed in their software, but their engineers wouldn't be addressing them anytime soon. If hundreds of millions of people use your products, you can't make everyone happy.

Previous Alternatives for Non-Coders

In the past, options everyday folks included:

• Find a new solution, but vendor lock-in served as a formidable deterrent.
• Adjust how you work to account for the current limitation.
• Adopt a low-tech solution, such as pen and paper.

These choices weren't exactly satisfying. Today, though, citizen developers can pick up a new in their bags: vibe coding.