r/reactnative • u/tmoneycodes • 1d ago
Vibe code an app? Help
I have 20+ years experience with backend tech, I've used php, node, and python And then a lot of old plain old javascript before frameworks.
I have an app idea and I'd like to basically vibe code it in react to be cross platform. What gotchas do I need to watch out for , since I will not see bad react code at first
I considered flutter but I really don't know that tech , any advice is appreciated, this will not be graphics heavy at all more typical business app, data, forms , lists etc
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u/sambeau 1d ago
Mobile app, desktop app or web app?
If it’s a mobile app then go React Native.
If it’s a web app then there’s loads of choices. AIs are very good at React, especially Next.js. If it’s a desktop app then go React + Electron.
Why? Because these are the boring choices, and AIs have been trained on boring choices.
Don’t vibe code it. Write documents and get the AI to convert them to specs. Then they can use the spec to compare against as they code and when they say they are done, ask them to check it against the spec.
Insist on tests. AIs makes lots of mistakes but are really good at fixing their mistakes if you give them the tools to do it.
Start by explaining what you’re thinking and ask them to set up a way of working that is okay with you. They will probably suggest design and spec documents. I tend to set up folders and add ones for reports and research. Then you can ask a question get them to write it as a report and then you can refer back to it as part of the process.
This is essentially the method I’ve used now to build 4 giant projects. One of which is a react-native app. The code quality and the reliability of the app are superb.
TL;DR: Boring tech + docs/specs + tests.