AI-generated code isn't always perfect on the first try. Learning to debug and iterate effectively is the key skill for vibe coders.

The Iteration Mindset

Expect 3-5 rounds of iteration for most features. This is normal and fast:

1. AI generates initial version (80% right)
2. You spot issues and describe fixes
3. AI refines (90% right)
4. You test edge cases and describe remaining issues
5. AI polishes (95-99% right)

Describing Bugs Effectively

Bad: "It's broken" Good: "When I click the Save button, nothing happens. I expected it to save the form data and show a success message. The button seems to be clickable but no toast notification appears."

The Bug Report Formula:

"When I [action], [what happens]. I expected [what should happen]. This happens [always / sometimes / only when...]."

Common AI Code Issues

• Missing error handling — "Add error handling to the form submission. Show a toast on error and disable the button while submitting."
• Mobile responsiveness — "The cards overlap on mobile. Make the grid single-column on screens under 640px."
• State management — "The counter resets when I navigate away and come back. Persist it to local storage."
• Performance — "The list re-renders on every keystroke. Add debouncing to the search input."

Using Browser Developer Tools

Even as a vibe coder, learn these basics:

• Console tab — Shows JavaScript errors in red
• Network tab — Shows if API calls are failing
• Elements tab — Inspect the page structure and CSS
• Responsive mode — Test mobile layouts

When you see an error, paste it directly to the AI:

"I'm getting this error in the console: [paste error]. Fix it."

When to Start Over

Sometimes it's faster to start fresh than to fix deeply broken code:

• If the architecture is fundamentally wrong
• If you've made 10+ iterations without convergence
• If the AI keeps introducing new bugs while fixing others
• Just save your requirements list and start a new conversation