Lesson 1: The Vague Code Problem
The Problem with "Vibe Coding"
When working with AI coding assistants, vague prompts lead to:
- Endless iteration cycles
- Wasted time debugging
- Frustration for both human and AI
Example of vague prompt:
"Build me a calculator"
What's missing:
- What operations should it support?
- What's the input format?
- How should errors be handled?
- What's the expected output format?
The Cost of Vagueness
A 5-minute vague prompt can lead to:
- 2+ hours of iteration
- Multiple rewrites
- Still not getting what you wanted
Better approach: 15-minute collaborative spec + 30-minute implementation = 45 minutes total
Time saved: 80-90 minutes!
Key Takeaway
✅ Specifications save time by reducing iteration
✅ AI is literal-minded - it executes exactly what you specify
✅ Collaboration works - AI suggests patterns, you provide constraints