Beyond the Vibe: Fixing the Architecture Gap in AI-Built Apps

Quick answer: Vibe coding can speed up implementation, but release readiness requires a separate assessment. Before deployment, review server-side authorization, data access, dependency risks, and configuration, then combine automated checks with manual testing of the application.

By Gabriel CA · Kraftwire Software

2026-09-09 · 7 min read

AI-assisted implementation still requires review of architecture, access controls, and deployed configuration. A working interface does not establish that trust boundaries or data flows are correct.

These live figures describe all scanned sites. They do not establish prevalence for an AI-built subgroup, compare development methods, or attribute findings to AI generation.

11% of the 119 live sites SimplyScan has scanned (13 sites) have at least one medium-severity architecture issue, such as a library with a known vulnerability or no rate limiting.

Inspect individual architecture findings and their evidence. The aggregate does not identify a particular dependency flaw or establish release readiness.

How Should You Review Architecture in AI-Built Apps?

Vibe coding uses natural-language prompts to guide implementation. Review the resulting interfaces and data flows independently of immediate visual or functional feedback.

For a dashboard, review state ownership, data-fetching paths, and dependencies between components. Test changes to database interfaces against their consumers rather than assuming a folder structure prevents breakage.

Maintainability Risks to Investigate

Circular dependencies and initialization behavior.
Inconsistent state ownership or stale UI data.
Changes that require coordinated edits across unrelated components.

Investigate the actual dependency graph and failure; these risks do not automatically require a rewrite.

How Can You Fix Next.js Architecture In Vibe Code?

Review responsibilities in page.tsx files and other components. Choose server and client boundaries according to data access, interactivity, and security requirements.

Distinguish Reads from Mutations

Client-side data fetching, including useEffect where appropriate, is not inherently an architecture flaw. In the App Router, Server Components can fetch data, while Server Actions are intended for mutations and require authorization. Do not route all reads through actions.

Share Types Deliberately

Share types where components implement the same contract. A types/ directory is an organizational choice; co-located types can also be appropriate.

Define Service Boundaries

A services/ folder can organize provider-specific code, but a folder name does not make code server-only or enforce authorization. Review actual imports, runtime boundaries, and permissions.

Use the checklist to organize configuration review and manual testing. Investigate the findings and assess risks outside automated coverage. See vibe coding security checklist.

Is Your Vibe Coded App Leaking Data?

Review generated code and deployed configuration directly, and test application-specific behavior alongside the supported automated checks.

30% of the 119 live sites SimplyScan has scanned (36 sites) have at least one high or critical security issue.

Review broken access control by testing permissions on each sensitive API route. The aggregate figure does not identify AI as the cause.

Security Controls to Review

Secret handling: Keep privileged credentials out of client artifacts.
Database access: Review privileges, RLS state, applicable policies, and bypass roles; test the anon role and signed-in users.
Server Actions: Authorize protected operations on the server rather than trusting that a server function is inaccessible to direct calls.

Use supported scan findings alongside code review. Test how untrusted data reaches queries, interpreters, and browser output; see injection guidance.

Why Do Bolt AI and Lovable Apps Need Manual Audits?

For a Bolt.new or Lovable project, inspect generated code, configuration, and deployment artifacts directly.

For Lovable or Bolt, review:

Dependencies: Identity, versions, known advisories, and whether each dependency is needed.
Secret files: Keep sensitive .env contents out of repositories and publicly served artifacts.
Performance: Investigate supported SimplyScan page and asset observations; available measurements depend on the target.

79% of the 119 live sites SimplyScan has scanned (94 sites) have at least one medium-severity speed issue, such as render-blocking scripts or no route-based code splitting.

Check images and client-side bundles when investigating slow pages; the aggregate figure does not attribute causes to AI.

How To Secure Supabase RLS In A Vibe Coded App?

Review privileges, RLS state, applicable policies, and bypass roles. Test the effective access described in the RLS guide.

Specify the Intended Access Model

Describe the roles and operations explicitly. For a profiles table, ask for owner-only reads based on auth.uid() and the intended authenticated write rules. Review grants and policy composition, then test allowed and denied cases; a prompt does not enforce those requirements.

Review generated SQL and deployed settings using the Supabase checklist, and test with relevant roles and separate users.

Can You Automate Architecture Reviews For AI Code?

The SimplyScan MCP server provides supported URL tools and selected-file analysis in compatible clients. Selected-file analysis requires a Pro API key, processes source in memory without an AI provider, and saves masked findings.

Review tool results and proposed repairs before applying them. JavaScript and TypeScript selected files receive supported code rules; other files receive secret-pattern checks. This feedback does not make every code change verified or guarantee a fix before commit.

Why Does Speed Matter For Vibe Coded Apps?

While security and architecture are the foundation, performance is what users notice.

Measure layout shift, response time, and client payloads before assigning a cause. Consider:

next/image where its sizing and delivery behavior fit the image.
Suspense boundaries for appropriate streaming or loading behavior.
A performance review of actual requests and bundle contents.

Client-side fetching does not by itself establish the cause of server Time to First Byte.

Is Vibe Coding Ready For Production?

Assess release readiness using the application’s security, performance, and operational requirements. Its generation method does not establish that it is ready for production.

A free SimplyScan URL scan grades 8 dimensions: security, speed, SEO, AEO, accessibility, compliance signals, domain health, and email security. Investigate its supported findings and coverage.

Pro Monitoring includes Pro scan credits for full reports. See pricing for the allowance associated with your chosen option.

No signup is required for the free URL scan. SimplyScan checks recognizable public secrets, supported headers, and anonymous backend responses; it does not verify every policy, login flow, or CSRF defense. Pro Monitoring provides scheduled rescans with change alerts, uptime monitoring, and supported Slack/GitHub integrations.

Don't let a good vibe hide a bad architecture. Review the application’s security, performance, and operational requirements, and verify changes with testing before deployment.

Pro Monitoring costs $24/month.

Frequently asked questions

Which security risk in vibe coding should I check?

Review secret boundaries, server-side authorization, database privileges, applicable policies, and bypass roles. Test record access with separate users and include permitted and denied operations. A functional interface or clean scan does not establish correct authorization.

How does vibe coding affect Next.js performance?

The development method alone does not establish a performance defect or its cause. Measure response timing, client payloads, layout shifts, and data-fetching behavior. Choose rendering and caching strategies for the actual requirements, then test the effect of changes.

Can AI tools like Cursor or Windsurf write secure code?

Generated code can implement security controls, but prompts do not enforce them. Review the implementation and test it independently. Supported MCP checks can supply additional findings; they do not verify every code path or guarantee a correct repair.

What is the Architecture Gap in AI development?

Here, an architecture gap means a mismatch between visible functionality and the data flows, boundaries, or maintainability the application requires. Inspect concrete dependencies and behavior; the term does not establish that AI generation caused a particular flaw.

How do I protect my API keys when vibe coding?

Keep privileged credentials server-side and inspect build output, responses, logs, and repository history for leaks. Environment variables are configuration, not encryption. Public provider keys need their documented restrictions; exposed secret credentials should be revoked and replaced.

Why should I use a third-party scanner for my AI app?

Use additional checks when their documented coverage fits the application’s requirements. Public observations complement code review and authenticated tests; they do not establish that platform checks missed a particular flaw or replace testing of application-specific behavior.