Your AI-built prototype works. Now make it safe to launch.
Tools like Lovable, Bolt, Replit and Cursor let you build a convincing app in days. Getting it ready for paying customers and real data is a different job. We review what the AI generated, fix what matters and keep the parts that work, so you are not starting again from scratch.
A demo proves people want it. It does not prove the app is safe to run.
Vibe coding is a genuinely useful way to test an idea. You describe what you want, the tool writes the code, and within an afternoon you can put something in front of a customer. We encourage founders and business owners to do exactly that.
The trouble starts when the prototype quietly becomes the product. The first customers sign up, someone connects payments, a partner uploads their data, and an app that was never designed for any of it is now holding information you are responsible for. AI builders aim for "it works when I click through it", not for what happens when a stranger tries to break it.
The good news is that most AI-generated prototypes are far from worthless. The screens, flows and much of the logic often capture exactly what users need. The job is to keep that and rebuild the foundations underneath.
The problems we find most often in vibe-coded apps
Every prototype is different, but the same weaknesses come up again and again in apps built with AI tools.
Database access rules missing or too open
Hosted backends often depend on row-level security policies. When those are absent or wrong, any logged-in user may be able to read other customers' records.
Secrets exposed in the browser
Keys for AI providers, payment services or databases bundled into front-end code, where anyone can copy them and run up your bill.
Authentication that only looks finished
A login screen that works, but no server-side checks on who may do what, weak password reset flows and no rate limiting.
A data model that will not survive growth
Duplicated fields, missing relationships and constraints, and no migration history, so every change risks corrupting existing data.
No tests, so no safe way to change anything
Each new prompt fixes one thing and breaks another, because nothing checks that existing behaviour still works.
No backups, monitoring or error tracking
If data is deleted or the app goes down, nobody knows until a customer complains, and there may be nothing to restore.
Unclear hosting, costs and ownership
The app runs inside a builder's account on a personal card, with dependencies nobody chose deliberately.
Patch, harden or rebuild your AI-generated app?
After the audit you get a clear recommendation. It is usually one of these three, with our reasoning written down.
| Patch the prototype | Harden and refactor | Rebuild on a clean base | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it fits | Internal tool or demo with no sensitive data | Sound core, fixable foundations | Tangled code, wrong stack or deep security flaws |
| What is kept | Nearly everything | Screens, flows and working logic | Designs, requirements and lessons learned |
| Typical effort | Days | A few weeks | Several weeks |
| Risk after launch | Still elevated | Low, with tests and monitoring | Low, with tests and monitoring |
| Keep iterating with AI tools? | Yes, carefully | Yes, within guardrails | Yes, within guardrails |
We do not push rebuilds by default. If hardening gets you safely to market, that is what we will recommend.
From vibe-coded prototype to production software
We use AI tools too, including parallel coding agents that let us read and refactor an unfamiliar codebase quickly. The difference is that senior engineers decide what changes and review every line before it goes live.
Audit
Days 1 to 5Security, data model, code structure, hosting and running costs reviewed, with AI-assisted code comprehension to map the codebase fast. You get a plain-language report and a recommendation.
Close the serious risks
Week 2Rotate exposed keys, lock down database access, fix authentication and switch on backups first, before any other work begins.
Rebuild the foundations
Weeks 2 to 6A proper data model with migrations, tests around the critical flows, CI, error tracking and hosting in accounts your company owns.
Go live and keep building
LaunchA production launch, documentation, and guidance on using AI tools on the codebase without undoing the work, or ongoing support if you prefer.
Questions we often hear
Is vibe coding safe for production apps?
Vibe coding is fine for prototypes, demos and internal experiments. For apps handling customer data, payments or anything regulated, AI-generated code needs a proper security review, tests and a sound data model before launch. The most common problems are basic ones, such as missing access controls and exposed keys, rather than sophisticated attacks.
Can you fix an app built with Lovable, Bolt or Replit?
Usually, yes. These tools generally produce code in mainstream languages and frameworks that experienced engineers can export, read and refactor. We start with an audit, then recommend patching, hardening or rebuilding depending on what we find.
Do I have to throw away my AI-generated code?
Rarely all of it. The interface, user flows and much of the business logic can often be kept, while the database, authentication and infrastructure are strengthened or replaced. We only recommend a full rebuild when fixing the existing code would genuinely cost more.
How much does it cost to take an AI prototype to production?
It depends on how much the app does, how sensitive the data is and how sound the generated code turns out to be. A focused audit is the cheapest way to find out, and it is followed by a fixed proposal. In the meantime, our app development cost calculator gives a rough range for the full product.
Can I keep using AI tools once the app is in production?
Yes, and we encourage it. The difference is working with guardrails: tests that catch regressions, review before changes go live, and a clear line between the parts of the app you can safely prompt your way through and the parts that need an engineer.
Related reading and tools
Show us what you have built.
Tell us which tool you used, what the app does and who is using it. We will reply within 24 hours with the risks we would check first and whether hardening or a rebuild looks more likely.
Working with companies globally · Response within 24 hours