Stop Failing at “Vibe Coding”: The Documentation-First System for Shipping Real Software

Why is it that despite using the most advanced AI coding agents like Cursor or Claude Code, you still end up with a pile of broken, non-functional code?

The core answer is simple: The problem isn’t AI “hallucinating.” The problem is you, the operator, lacking structured thinking and constraints. AI is a translator that converts your intent into code; if your intent is vague and unstructured, the output will inevitably be chaotic. By establishing a strict “Documentation-First” system that pre-sets all specifications, workflows, and context, you can eliminate the uncertainty in AI coding and truly achieve efficient software delivery.

This article delves into how to move from chaos to order, using a documentation system and a specific toolchain to build software products that actually work.

Coding setup
Image Source: Unsplash

Why Do Your AI Coding Attempts Always Fail?

You fail because you skip the fundamentals, attempting to trade a single vague sentence for a complete application.

If you don’t know what a component is, what state is, or why a layout breaks on a phone, you cannot accurately describe your requirements to AI. Without clear context, AI is forced to “guess” to fill in logical gaps. Every guess is an accumulation of errors, eventually leading to system collapse.

Must-Change Mindset: AI is a Translator, Not a Magician

AI does not possess intuition; it only processes what you input. When you say “Make an Airbnb-like site,” this instruction is riddled with massive variables for AI: React or Vue? Which database? How are user permissions designed? What colors? Without clear constraints, AI will fill these blanks arbitrarily, resulting in loose code structure and dependency conflicts.

The solution isn’t better prompt engineering; it’s improving your understanding of what you are building and translating that understanding into hard rules AI can read.

Deep Reflection: From “Commander” to “Architect”

I used to make this mistake too—opening Cursor and starting a chat, expecting it to handle everything. The result was often code that looked flashy but simply didn’t run. I realized I was acting like a commander giving orders to a new employee with no clear execution standards. When I started sitting down and writing requirement docs and specifications first, project quality transformed qualitatively. This isn’t just extra work; it’s laying the foundation for the project.

What is the “Documentation-First” System?

To get AI to output high-quality code, you must first establish a complete knowledge base consisting of six core documents and two session files.

The core logic of this system is: Establish a “Single Source of Truth” via documentation before writing a single line of code. AI coding tools have high capability but low certainty. The absence of constraint documentation leads AI to hallucinate features, make unauthorized architectural decisions, and produce code that solves problems you never articulated.

Core Doc 1: Product Requirements Document (PRD)

This is the “contract” you sign with AI. It must include:

What are you building? Specific product definition.
Who is it for? Target users.
Feature List: What features are in scope, and what is explicitly out of scope.
User Stories: In what scenario does the user perform what action?
Success Criteria: How do we define “Done”?

Without a PRD, you aren’t developing software; you are just praying for one.

Core Doc 2: Application Flow Document (APP_FLOW.md)

Document every page and every user navigation path in plain English.

What action triggers the flow?
What are the step-by-step decision points?
What happens on success? What happens on error?
Screen inventory and routing rules.

This effectively prevents AI from guessing how users move through your app, ensuring consistency in interaction logic.

Core Doc 3: Tech Stack Document (TECH_STACK.md)

Lock every single dependency to an exact version.
Don’t just write “Use React,” because AI might pick any version. You should write: “Next.js 14.1.0, React 18.2.0, TypeScript 5.3.3.” This completely eliminates hallucinated dependencies and random tech choices.

Core Doc 4: Frontend Guidelines Document (FRONTEND_GUIDELINES.md)

This is your complete design system specification, containing:

Fonts: Font families and sizes.
Color Palette: Exact hex codes for primary, secondary, background, borders, etc.
Spacing Scale: E.g., multiples of 4px, 8px, 16px.
Layout Rules: Component styles, responsive breakpoints.
UI Library Preferences: Whether to use a specific component library.

This solves the problem of AI randomly generating inconsistent colors and spacing once and for all.

Core Doc 5: Backend Structure Document (BACKEND_STRUCTURE.md)

Define every detail of the data layer:

Database Schema: Every table, column, type, and relationship defined.
Authentication Logic: How to verify identity.
API Endpoint Contracts: Interface rules.
Storage Rules and edge cases.

If you are using Supabase, this doc contains the exact SQL structure. AI will build your backend against this blueprint, not its own assumptions.

Core Doc 6: Implementation Plan Document (IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md)

Don’t just write “Build the app.” Break it down into:

Step 1.1: Initialize project.
Step 1.2: Install dependencies from TECH_STACK.md.
Step 1.3: Create folder structure.
Step 2.1: Build navbar component per FRONTEND_GUIDELINES.md.

The more detailed the steps, the less space AI has to guess.

Two Essential Session Files

Besides the six docs above, you need two files to maintain session continuity and rule enforcement.

1. Rules File (.clauderules or .cursor/rules)

This is the first file AI reads automatically at the start of every session. It contains the rules, constraints, patterns, and context that every session must follow, such as:

Tech stack summary.
File naming conventions.
Component patterns (e.g., Use functional components with hooks).
Forbidden actions (e.g., Never use inline styles, always use Tailwind).
Design system tokens.

Think of this as the AI’s operating manual for your specific project. In Cursor, put project rules in .cursor/rules/; in Claude Code, place .clauderules in the root directory.

2. Progress Tracking File (progress.txt)

This is the most overlooked yet critical file. Since AI has no memory between sessions, when you close your terminal or start a new chat, everything resets to zero. progress.txt serves as your external memory bridge.

File Content Example:

COMPLETED:
- User auth via Clerk (login, signup, Google OAuth)
- Dashboard layout with sidebar navigation
- Products API endpoint (GET /api/products)

IN PROGRESS:
- Product detail page (/products/[id])
- Need to connect frontend to API

NEXT:
- Shopping cart functionality
- Checkout with Stripe

KNOWN BUGS:
- Mobile nav doesn't close after clicking a link

Update this file religiously after every completed feature. Whenever you start a new session, switch branches, or return to a project a week later, AI reads this file and instantly picks up where you left off, without needing you to re-explain everything from scratch.

How to “Interrogate” AI Before Writing Code?

Before writing any documentation, you must make AI thoroughly dissect your idea. This is the key step that changes everything.

Core Action: Use the following prompt to force AI into “Planning Mode Only”:

“

“Before writing any code, endlessly interrogate my idea in Planning mode only. Assume nothing. Ask questions until there’s no assumptions left.”

Key Questions AI Should Ask You

If AI doesn’t ask these proactively, ensure you can answer them:

Who is this for?
What is the core action a user takes?
What happens after they complete that action?
What data needs to be saved?
What data needs to be displayed?
What happens on error? What happens on success?
Does this need login? Does it need a database? Does it need to work on mobile?

Real-World Scenario: Recipe Sharing App

If you are building a recipe-sharing app, the interrogation might look like this:

User: Home cooks who want to save and share recipes.
Core Action: User creates a recipe with title, ingredient list, steps, and a photo.
After: Recipe is saved to their profile and visible on a public feed.
Data Saved: Recipe title, ingredients (array), steps (array), photo URL, author ID, timestamp.
Data Display: Feed of recent recipes, individual recipe detail page, user’s own collection.
Error States: Upload fails, missing required fields, unauthorized edit attempt.
Login: Yes, to create recipes. Browsing is public.
Database: Yes, users table and recipes table with a foreign key relationship.
Mobile: Yes, most users will add recipes from their phone while cooking.

Once the interrogation is complete and you have clear answers to everything, use this second prompt:

“

“Based on our interrogation, generate my canonical documentation files: PRD.md, APP_FLOW.md, TECH_STACK.md, FRONTEND_GUIDELINES.md, BACKEND_STRUCTURE.md, IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md. Use the answers from our conversation as the source material. Be specific and exhaustive. No ambiguity.”

The docs generated from this are your single source of truth.

Core Web Development Concepts You Must Master

If you can’t describe requirements using professional terminology, AI won’t execute accurately. Here are the concepts you must be fluent in when talking to AI.

1. UI vs. UX

UI (User Interface): The visual layer. Colors, fonts, button shapes, spacing.
UX (User Experience): The feeling layer. Is it intuitive? Is the flow smooth? Are users frustrated?

Pro Tip: Don’t say “make it look better,” say “make it easier to use.” A more advanced move is to use screenshots as references. Find an app interface you like (e.g., on Framer or Dribbble), screenshot it, and send it to AI with the prompt “match this layout” or “use this UI as inspiration.” AI can extract design patterns, spacing, and color palettes from a screenshot. Google’s Gemini 3 Pro currently excels at this.

2. Component-Based Thinking

A component is a reusable piece of interface, like a Lego brick. A button is a component, a navbar is a component, a card is a component.
Bad Prompt: “Build me a landing page.”
Good Prompt: “Build a landing page with these components: navbar, hero section, features grid (3 cards), testimonial carousel, CTA section, footer.”

3. Layout Logic

Websites are boxes inside boxes. Master the concept of containers, grids, and cards.
Scenario Example:

“

“Two-column layout. Sidebar on the left, 250px wide. Main content takes the rest. Sidebar is fixed, doesn’t scroll.”

4. State Management

State is data that changes. Clicking a button, toggling dark mode, submitting a form are all state changes.
If your button does nothing, it’s usually a state problem.
Prompt Example: “When the user clicks this button, set the modal state to open. When they click outside, set it to closed.”

5. Styling & Design Tokens

CSS controls appearance; Tailwind is a shortcut system for CSS. Design tokens are reusable fixed values (like brand color #2563EB, spacing in multiples of 4px).

Lock all of this in your FRONTEND_GUIDELINES.md before coding starts. When every component uses the same design tokens, your app feels cohesive. Without it, every component will look different.

6. Responsive Design & Mobile-First

Responsive means working on all screen sizes. Mobile-first means designing for the smallest screen first, then adding complexity for larger screens.
Breakpoint Reference:

Mobile: 0-640px
Tablet: 640-1024px
Desktop: 1024px+

Define clearly in your docs: “Navigation: hamburger menu below 768px, full horizontal nav above.”

7. Pages vs. Routes

A page is what the user sees; a route is the URL. / shows the home page; /about shows the about page. Distinguish between static routes and dynamic routes (like /products/[id]).

8. Frontend, Backend, & APIs

Frontend: Interface running in the browser.
Backend: Data processing, databases, logic running on the server.
API: The bridge between frontend and backend (like a waiter in a restaurant).

Beginner Recommendations:

Simple sites (no database, no accounts): Frontend only.
Complex apps (user data, logic): Frontend + Backend.
Database recommended: Supabase (Free tier, easy).
Authentication recommended: Clerk (Simple, beautiful UI) or Supabase Auth.

9. Security & Environment Variables

.env files store API keys and passwords.
Iron Rule: Never commit .env to git, never paste API keys in chat or screenshots with AI apps. If you leak a key, revoke it immediately and generate a new one.

How to Use the AI Toolchain Correctly?

Different tools suit different phases. Don’t try to use one hammer for every nail.

1. Cursor: Your Code Editor

Cursor has four core modes, but most people only use one:

Ask Mode: Read-only. Use it to understand code, explore, and plan. Like a consultant.
Plan Mode: Architect before coding. Generates detailed implementation plans with steps, asks clarifying questions, and can even draw diagrams. Use this at the start of every new feature.
Agent Mode: The workhorse. Autonomously writes code, edits files, installs packages. This is where most “vibe coding” happens.
Debug Mode: The debugger. When you hit a stubborn bug, it instruments your code with logs, generates hypotheses, and walks through the bug methodically.

Workflow: Ask to understand -> Plan to architect -> Agent to build -> Debug to fix.

2. Claude: Your Thinking Partner

Whether via web interface or Claude Code, Claude is best for “heavy thinking”: interrogating ideas, writing the six canonical docs, planning complex architecture, and product decisions. Claude Code runs in your terminal and automatically reads .clauderules, making it ideal for large refactors or documentation-heavy tasks.

3. Kimi K2.5: The Visual Specialist

This is Moonshot AI’s open-source visual model. When you have a design mockup (screenshot, wireframe) that needs pixel-perfect code translation, use K2.5. It handles layouts, animations, and interactions much more accurately than text descriptions alone.

4. Codex: The Closer & Debugger

OpenAI’s Codex serves as a debugger and finalizer. It runs in a sandboxed environment, traces dependencies, runs tests, and fixes failures. Use Codex when the architecture is set but things are broken, or when you need a code review before shipping.

Multi-Tool Collaboration Flow

Claude does the thinking and documentation.
Cursor Agent (or Claude Code / Kimi K2.5) does the building.
Codex does the debugging and passing tests.

Advanced Workflow: When You’re Ready

Once you are comfortable with the basics, these techniques will multiply your speed.

1. Parallel Sessions with Git Worktrees

Don’t do one thing at a time. Spin up 3-5 git worktrees, each running an independent Claude Code session. One works on auth, another on layout, another on APIs. They share the repo but work independently. Merge when done. This turns a full day’s work into a few hours.

2. Plan Mode as a Force Multiplier

Before implementing, have one Claude session write the plan, then spin up a second session to act as “Staff Engineer” to review it: “Find gaps, edge cases, and anything that will break.” Fix the plan before writing a single line of code.

3. Autonomous Bug Fixing

When you get a bug report or CI tests fail, just paste it to Claude: “Fix it.” Don’t explain how. Let it read logs, trace the root cause, and resolve it. Zero context switching for you.

4. Voice Dictation for Prompts

You speak three times faster than you type. Use voice input (double-tap Fn key on Mac) to describe what you want conversationally. Longer, more detailed prompts produce better outputs.

Deployment, Verification, and Iteration

Writing the code is just the start; getting it to run and delivering it is the finish line.

1. Git & Version Control

Git tracks every change. Habit: Commit after every feature that works.

git add .
git commit -m "Added user login"
git push

2. Deployment Process

Using Vercel for deployment is the simplest path:

Push code to GitHub.
Connect GitHub repo to Vercel.
Vercel builds and deploys automatically.
Add environment variables in the Vercel dashboard (Note: This does not transfer from local .env automatically).

Common Issue: Works locally but fails online. 99% of the time it’s missing environment variables or incorrect build settings. Give the Vercel error logs to AI to fix.

3. Verification Checklist

Before you ship, ensure:

Have you tested on a real device?
Are empty states handled?
Are error states handled?
Are there loading states for slow networks?
Can fast-clicking break the app?
Are secrets hidden from browser dev tools?

4. Reading Error Messages

Don’t panic; error messages are instructions.

TypeError: You are using something wrong.
Cannot read property ‘map’ of undefined: You are trying to use .map() on something that doesn’t exist.
Filename:Line Number: Tells you exactly where to go to fix it.

5. The Art of Iteration

Good Iteration: “The product grid shows 4 columns on desktop but I need 3. The card images are stretched, they should be object-cover. And there’s no loading state when data is fetching.”
Bad Iteration: “It doesn’t look right, fix it.”

Break big ideas into small blocks (LEGOs) and execute step-by-step. This is exactly what your IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md is for.

Debugging process
Image Source: Unsplash

Conclusion: Redefine Your Collaboration with AI

If you read this guide and still can’t ship software, the problem is effort, not information.

“Vibe coding” isn’t about casting a spell to get code; it’s about harnessing massive compute power with a rigorous system. When you adopt the documentation-first mindset and master these tools and concepts, you stop being a bystander barking orders and become an architect capable of commanding an AI army to build magnificent software.

Starting today, don’t just write “Build me an App.” Sit down, open your editor, and write your first PRD.md. That is what a real senior engineer does.

Practical Summary / Action Checklist

To help you get started immediately, here is a condensed checklist of key steps:

Before Project Start

Interrogate the Idea: Use AI to ask yourself questions until there are no assumptions left.
Generate Docs: Have AI generate the 6 core documents based on the interrogation.
Lock Rules: Create a .clauderules file establishing tech stack and naming conventions.
Initialize Tracking: Create progress.txt to record the starting state.

During Coding

Reference Docs: When prompting AI, reference specific doc sections (e.g., “Design per FRONTEND_GUIDELINES.md section 2”).
Execute Step-by-Step: Follow IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md step by step. Do one step at a time.
Update Instantly: Update progress.txt and commit to Git immediately after every completed feature.
Use Tools Right: Use Plan mode to architect, Agent mode to build, Debug mode to troubleshoot.

Deployment & Maintenance

Protect Secrets: Ensure .env is in .gitignore and configured server-side only.
Real Device Verification: Test on mobile and different browsers.
Log-Driven Debugging: For deployment errors, feed Vercel logs directly to AI.

One-Page Summary

Core Philosophy: Documentation first, code second.
Key Docs: PRD, App Flow, Tech Stack, Frontend Guidelines, Backend Structure, Implementation Plan.
Memory Aids: .clauderules (Rules), progress.txt (Session Bridge).
Tool Combo: Claude (Think/Docs) + Cursor Agent (Build) + Codex (Debug).
Must-Know Concepts: UI/UX, Components, State, Responsive Design, APIs, Database, Environment Variables.
Golden Rule: Specificity > Everything Else. Be specific enough that AI has nothing to guess.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why does AI keep generating dependencies I didn’t ask for?
Because you haven’t locked the exact versions in TECH_STACK.md. AI will improvise, leading to version conflicts.

2. AI forgets the context every time I open a new window. What do I do?
Leverage the progress.txt file. This is your external memory bridge between sessions; ensure you instruct AI to read it at the start of every new session.

3. How can I get the interface to look exactly like my design?
Use screenshots as reference inputs and use vision-capable models (like Kimi K2.5 or Gemini 3 Pro), while defining all design tokens in FRONTEND_GUIDELINES.md.

4. What should I do when I hit a stubborn bug?
Don’t fix it manually. Switch to Cursor’s Debug mode or use Codex. Feed it the error logs and code; let it trace dependencies and hypothesize the root cause.

5. Can I jump into this system as a complete beginner?
Yes, but you are advised to spend time understanding the basic concepts listed in this article (like components, state, APIs) first. If you don’t know what you are building, documentation won’t help you either.

6. Is using Git mandatory?
Yes. Without version control, you lose the ability to “undo.” Once code breaks, you cannot revert. Committing code after every working feature is a best practice.

7. What is the most common reason for deployment errors when it works locally?
In 99% of cases, it is environment variables (.env) not being configured on the deployment platform (like Vercel), or mismatched build commands. Check your Vercel settings panel.

8. Where should I put .clauderules and progress.txt?
Place them in the root directory of your project. Most AI tools (like Claude Code) will automatically detect and read configuration files in the root.

Stop Failing at Vibe Coding: The AI Documentation-First System for Shipping Real Software