Vibe Coding: Why AI-Generated Apps Shouldn't Reach Production in Serious Businesses

What is Vibe Coding?

The term "vibe coding" describes a new way of creating software: you describe to an AI what you want, and it generates the code for you. Without reading a single line, without understanding the architecture, without reviewing security. Just vibes.

Tools like Cursor, Bolt, Lovable, and v0 have democratized software creation to the point where anyone can have a functional app in minutes. And that's incredible for prototypes, proofs of concept, and personal projects.

But when we're talking about production software for a serious business, vibe coding is a ticking time bomb.

The fundamental problem: nobody reviews the code

When an experienced developer writes code, they do it with context: they understand security implications, know design patterns, anticipate edge cases, and plan for maintainability.

When AI generates code through vibe coding:

There's no security review: The code "works", but is it secure? Nobody has verified it
There's no architectural understanding: AI generates solutions that work in isolation but can create systemic issues
There's no conscious dependency management: Libraries are imported without evaluating their security, maintenance, or licenses
There's no scalability planning: Code that works for 10 users may collapse with 1,000

Code that "works" and code that is secure, maintainable, and scalable are very different things.

The real cybersecurity risks

1. SQL Injection and XSS: the classics AI doesn't prevent

AI generates code that solves the immediate problem but frequently ignores input sanitization. A contact form generated through vibe coding can be vulnerable to:

SQL Injection: An attacker can access, modify, or delete your entire database
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Injection of malicious scripts that steal user sessions
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): Unauthorized actions executed on behalf of legitimate users

These vulnerabilities are in the OWASP Top 10 for a reason: they're the most common and most exploited. And AI-generated code commits them constantly.

2. Secrets exposed in code

One of the most common errors in vibe-coded apps: API keys, authentication tokens, and database credentials hardcoded in source code.

AI has no operational security awareness. If you ask it to connect to an API, it may generate code with the key directly in the file. If that code reaches a public repository (or even a private one without proper configuration), your credentials are compromised.

3. Vulnerable dependencies

AI-generated code imports libraries without evaluating:

Known vulnerabilities (CVEs): Packages with documented security flaws
Supply chain attacks: Malicious libraries with names similar to legitimate ones (typosquatting)
Abandoned maintenance: Dependencies without security updates for years
Incompatible licenses: Code that could create legal problems for your business

4. Deficient authentication and authorization

AI can generate a login system that "works", but:

Does it hash passwords correctly? Does it use bcrypt or argon2, or store them in plain text?
Does it implement rate limiting to prevent brute force attacks?
Does it manage session tokens securely?
Does it properly separate permissions between user roles?
Does it protect against session fixation and session hijacking?

A login system "that works" is not the same as a secure authentication system.

5. Lack of logging and auditing

Vibe-coded apps typically have no security logging. This means:

You don't know who accessed what and when
You can't detect intrusion attempts
You have no forensic evidence if a breach occurs
You don't comply with regulations like GDPR that require traceability

Beyond security: other critical risks

Maintainability: invisible technical debt

Vibe-coded apps create massive technical debt:

Duplicated code: AI doesn't refactor, it generates new solutions each time
Pattern inconsistency: Each prompt generates code in a different style
No contextual documentation: The code works but nobody knows why it was done that way
Excessive coupling: Components depending on each other in unexpected ways

When you need to modify something (and you will), nobody will understand the code. Not even the AI that generated it, because it has no memory of the original context.

Reliability: works until it doesn't

Vibe-coded apps typically:

Don't handle errors correctly: Happy path works, but any unexpected case causes crashes
Have no tests: Zero test coverage, zero confidence in changes
Ignore edge cases: What happens if the user sends an empty field? An emoji? A 5GB file?
Don't manage loading states or network errors: The app freezes or shows blank screens

Regulatory compliance

For serious businesses, especially in Europe:

GDPR: Does the app handle personal data correctly? Does it have consent? Does it allow data deletion?
PCI-DSS: If you process payments, do you meet card data security standards?
ISO 27001: Does your software meet information security standards?

Vibe-coded software doesn't account for any of these regulations.

When DOES vibe coding make sense?

It's not all negative. Vibe coding is excellent for:

Prototypes and proofs of concept: Quickly validating ideas before investing in professional development
Simple internal tools: Scripts and utilities that don't handle sensitive data
Learning: Understanding concepts and exploring new technologies
Very early MVPs: First versions to validate market fit, with the explicit intention of rewriting later

The key is knowing when to stop and transition to professional development.

The solution: AI-assisted professional development

AI is an incredibly powerful tool when used by a professional who understands what it generates. At LoonByte, we use AI as part of our workflow, but:

Every line of code is reviewed by experienced developers
Security is verified at every development phase
Dependencies are audited before integration
Architecture is planned before writing a single line of code
Tests are implemented to guarantee reliability
Regulatory compliance is considered from the design phase

The difference between vibe coding and AI-assisted professional development is the same as between autopilot and a professional pilot: AI helps, but the expert makes the critical decisions.

Conclusion

Vibe coding has democratized software creation, and that's positive. But democratizing creation is not the same as democratizing quality, security, and reliability.

If your business depends on software — if it handles customer data, processes payments, manages confidential information, or needs to be available 24/7 — you need professional development, not vibe coding.

It's not about whether the app works today. It's about whether it will be secure, maintainable, and reliable tomorrow.

Have a vibe-coded app that needs to go to production safely? Contact us and we'll help you assess the risks and build a professional solution.

"Software is like a building: anyone can put up walls, but you need an architect to make sure it doesn't collapse"