Do you still write code “from scratch” or mostly remix and adapt now?
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I’ve noticed that my workflow has changed completely over the last year. I rarely start a new project with a blank file anymore. Instead, I pick a template, reuse snippets, or let an AI helper suggest the structure and then I just vibe my way through the build.
It’s faster, but sometimes I miss the old “blank screen energy,” when every line felt handcrafted.
I’m curious how others here approach it:
– Do you still prefer to build from scratch?
– Or has remixing and fast iteration become your new normal?
– Do you think this shift is making coding more creative, or less intentional?
I’d love to hear how your process has evolved and what “vibe coding” means for you right now
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For me, it depends on the importance of the project. If I need to launch something fast, I use AI mostly to help me set up the project, plan how to add new features, and assist with coding. However, I don’t like giving the AI too many tasks or very hard tasks because sometimes it just goes crazy. Still, I use it every day because I think it helps me get more done in less time.
If I want to build a project just for the sake of learning, I solve the problem by myself first, then let the AI solve it so I can compare and learn more. Sometimes my code is better, sometimes the AI-generated code is better, so I find it very useful for learning.
I think it’s more about building quickly and discarding. Even if you start from scratch, the code isn’t meant to be final, it’s useful for rapidly deciding your ideas, conceptualizing them, and communicating your thoughts.
I draft with Claude Code (or Copilot/Cursor), open a PR, and let an AI reviewer like CodeRabbit do the first pass.
CI runs tests and scans.
I repeat until everything’s green and the PR is ready to merge.
It’s fast, but it’s still disciplined.
more detailed notes in my latest FCC blog here - https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/how-to-use-vibe-coding-effectively-as-a-dev/
I’ve mostly shifted to remixing and using templates or AI suggestions too. It’s definitely faster and helps iterate quickly, but I sometimes miss the focus and creativity that comes with a blank file. “Vibe coding” for me now is about balancing speed with small handcrafted touches.
I start from scratch less, but think from scratch more.
I feel like the more complex project the more you should invest time in actually writing yourself because going through everything AI wrote and fixing it will take 10x more time than writing code yourself