In the world of modern software development, vibe coding—the practice of writing applications by prompting AI with natural language instead of traditional manual coding—has exploded in popularity. With tools like Cursor, Claude, Windsurf, and Qoder.AI, developers can turn ideas into working prototypes in hours instead of weeks.
But this raises a crucial question: how much structure do we actually need in a vibe coding workflow? Should we plan, design, and test like traditional software engineering, or should we lean into the freedom of “full vibes,” letting the AI generate whatever comes next?
In this blog, we’ll explore the tension between structure and creativity in vibe coding, and how to strike the right balance.
Why Structure Matters in Software Development
Before vibe coding, structure was non-negotiable. Teams followed established practices such as:
- Planning: Defining requirements, use cases, and architecture.
- Design: Creating system diagrams, UI/UX flows, and database schemas.
- Testing: Building unit tests, integration tests, and QA pipelines.
This structure ensured scalability, reliability, and maintainability. Without it, projects collapsed under their own complexity.
So, is structure still necessary in a vibe coding workflow? The short answer: yes—but the way it shows up is evolving.
The Rise of “Full Vibes” Coding
What Does “Full Vibes” Mean?
“Full vibes” coding is when you skip heavy planning and just start prompting AI:
- “Build me a login system with Google OAuth.”
- “Generate a dashboard with analytics graphs.”
- “Refactor this function to run faster.”
The focus is on momentum and creativity—getting something running as quickly as possible.
The Benefits of Going Full Vibes
- Speed: Rapid prototyping and MVPs come alive in hours.
- Accessibility: Non-developers can experiment with code they’d never write manually.
- Creativity: By skipping rigid planning, unexpected solutions emerge.
- Low Stakes Early On: For side projects and idea validation, over-structuring can be wasteful.
The Risks of Too Much “Vibes”
Going full vibes feels great at first—but without some structure, cracks show quickly.
Technical Debt Piles Up
AI-generated code often lacks consistency. Over time, you end up with spaghetti code that’s hard to debug or extend.
Fragile Integrations
Skipping design means your APIs, database schema, or service connections may not scale. Small changes can break large parts of the system.
Testing Neglect
If you rely on “it runs, so it works,” bugs slip through and accumulate. AI may patch symptoms, but hidden issues grow.
Hard to Onboard Teams
Solo “vibe coders” can get away with chaos. But in teams, missing structure makes collaboration painful.
Finding the Balance: Structure + Vibes
The real answer isn’t structure OR vibes—it’s knowing when to lean into one over the other.
Early Stages: Go Heavy on Vibes
In the idea validation phase, speed matters more than stability. Use vibe coding to:
- Prototype UI mockups.
- Generate boilerplate code.
- Connect services quickly.
- Test business ideas before over-engineering.
Here, minimal structure is fine. Your goal is momentum.
Scaling Stage: Introduce Structure
Once your vibe-coded prototype starts gaining traction, introduce structure before chaos sets in:
- Architecture Planning: Define modules, services, and boundaries.
- Documentation: Summarize key design choices for consistency.
- Automated Testing: Ask AI to generate test suites as you go.
- Refactoring: Regularly prompt AI to clean up messy functions.
At this stage, structure is about sustainability—not slowing innovation but preventing burnout.
Team & Production Stage: Structure is Essential
When your vibe-coded project becomes a real product, structure is non-negotiable:
- Version Control & Branching: Enforce Git workflows.
- Code Review: AI can help, but humans must oversee critical logic.
- Security Reviews: Structure prevents vulnerabilities from slipping through.
- CI/CD Pipelines: Automate testing and deployment.
Here, structure protects against downtime, bugs, and compliance risks.
The Hybrid Workflow for Vibe Coding
A practical way to think about structure vs vibes is to treat AI like a junior developer:
- Let it generate first drafts (“full vibes”).
- Then apply human oversight, planning, and testing (structure).
Example Workflow
- Prompt AI: “Generate an Express.js backend with user authentication.”
- Review & Plan: Check if the architecture aligns with long-term goals.
- Refactor: Ask AI to modularize or optimize.
- Test: Generate automated tests and run them.
- Document: Summarize design choices for future contributors.
This loop blends the creativity of vibes with the reliability of structure.
Practical Tips for Balancing Structure and Vibes
- Start Vibes, Add Structure: Don’t over-plan in the early phase. Layer in discipline as your project matures.
- Iterative Documentation: Instead of heavy docs up front, ask AI to generate short summaries after each sprint.
- Testing From Day 1: Even in “full vibes” mode, generate at least basic tests.
- Scheduled Refactoring: Block time for AI-assisted cleanups to avoid chaos.
- Contextual Prompts: Give AI structured goals (“modularize this function for reusability”) instead of vague ones.
Final Thoughts
The role of structure in vibe coding isn’t about choosing one side—it’s about timing.
- In the early days, going full vibes is powerful for speed, exploration, and creativity.
- As your project matures, structure keeps things reliable, secure, and scalable.
- The best developers embrace a hybrid workflow: vibes for momentum, structure for sustainability.
Ultimately, vibe coding represents a new frontier in software development. By blending structure with vibes, teams can move fast and build things that last.
