Sean Kochel: Outperform 99% Of Vibe Coders With This Planning Method

If your vibe coding isn't going well, the root cause is often your planning process. Without a clear vision of what you want to build, it's tough to get a computer to execute it effectively. Planning is the foundation of successful AI-assisted coding.

The planning process breaks down into three stages: 1) Architecting the app's features and tech stack, 2) Designing all screens before building, and 3) Creating a step-by-step execution plan. Mastering these stages improves output quality.

Stage one, architecting, involves brainstorming the project structure. Define what you're building, who it's for, why it matters, and how it differs from existing solutions. Use clear formatting like markdown to organize responses and clarify MVP features.

For example, building a Michelin star recipe guide app for home cooks involves features like user registration, camera integration for food photos, recipe generation, and sharing. Defining tech choices like React Native frontend and Python backend early is crucial.

Detail each feature by listing its name, summary, core requirements, involved tech, and main goals. For instance, authentication needs email/password login, social logins, profile management, and secure token handling using Supabase and React Native.

Consider edge cases and technical nuances like handling different lighting in camera features, image processing APIs, and latency vs. accuracy trade-offs. Planning these details upfront prevents costly rework and ensures smooth user experiences.

Stage two focuses on design: think like a veteran SaaS product designer. Define general aesthetics, motion choreography, content-first layouts, feedback systems, and accessibility. Go screen by screen, describing user goals, error prevention, and responsiveness.

Map out screen states: blank, populated, editing, deleting, searching, etc. This helps visualize user interaction flows and progressive disclosure of complexity, making the app intuitive and efficient.

Stage three is detailed technical documentation. Write step-by-step specs with pseudo code where helpful. Define file system structure, API endpoints, database schema, data flow, error handling, and edge cases for each feature to build a robust plan.

For example, authentication includes APIs for registration, login, password reset, and email verification. Backend services handle user preferences, analytics, and payments. Frontend components cover screens like welcome, signup, and password reset.

This comprehensive planning approach minimizes risks of building overly ambitious or unclear features. It integrates with task management tools to convert plans into actionable steps, enabling efficient AI-assisted development and iteration.

The sky's the limit with this method: use your preferred tools to convert detailed plans into PRDs, task lists, or step-by-step guides. This structured approach helps you stop pulling your hair out and start vibing with your coding projects.

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