Tips to improve your AI vibe coding

Bill Doerrfeld | June 3, 2025

My latest for InfoWorld outlines some top tips to make the most out of AI coding.

"So I finally tried vibe coding, and it didn't go so well..."


Posts like this are everywhere lately — and for good reason. Developers are realizing that being productive with AI coding assistants takes a lot more than just asking nicely. There's real craft to it.


These tools can hallucinate, delete code, hit context limits, degrade session quality, and quietly introduce security flaws.


So, today for InfoWorld, I pulled together expert tips from leaders at Cockroach Labs, DX, Graphite, Honeycomb, Sonar, and beyond. Their key recommendations to improve your AI coding results:


  • Improve your prompting skills
  • Find the right human-machine balance
  • Pick the right LLM for the task
  • Work in small chunks
  • Leave a trail of breadcrumbs for your AI
  • Test relentlessly
  • Feed it data schemas


In short — AI-assisted development is an entirely new muscle that developers are beginning to hone.


Also check out my previous article, which explores knowing when exactly to use AI coding assistants. Spoiler alert: they work better for some tasks than others.


Photo by Wai Yan Moe on Unsplash



Read: 7 ways to improve your AI coding results
Overhead view of construction site with workers in orange vests, metal beams, and dark concrete.
By Bill Doerrfeld August 30, 2025
For my latest DirectorPlus column with LeadDev, I synced with JB Brown, VP of engineering at Smartsheet, to learn about their multi-agent AI development strategy.
Pink and purple sunset sky with dark, fluffy clouds.
By Bill Doerrfeld August 25, 2025
Alternative clouds are having a moment. Nearly 75% of orgs are using two or more alt clouds beyond the hyperscalers, according to a HostingAdvice.com report.
Digital global CIOs digital sovereignty
By Bill Doerrfeld August 20, 2025
The cloud is no longer borderless. Rising regional data laws and sovereign cloud mandates are forcing CIOs to act.
A
By Bill Doerrfeld August 11, 2025
In a multi-agent coding workflow, an engineer leads a "team" of specialist AI agents to perform various SDLC tasks: scaffolding, coding, testing, log analysis, deployment, and more.
Open source software churn end of life
By Bill Doerrfeld August 8, 2025
Open-source software churn is accelerating. With more frequent version end-of-lives and even total project abandonments, it's harder than ever to keep up.
Hype drives most programming language igrationsigra
By Bill Doerrfeld July 30, 2025
I covered a report from HostingAdvice.com, which found that the majority of programming language migrations are driven by hype, instead of proven outcomes.
Cross-functional teams help Stack Overflow adapt LeadDev DirectorPlus 2025
By Bill Doerrfeld July 28, 2025
Facing an existential crisis, Stack Overflow has had to pivot quickly. I synced with a director to discover what team strategies are helping them adapt.
System Initiative feature InfoWorld doerrfeld
By Bill Doerrfeld July 14, 2025
System Initiative aims to replace the toil of maintaining config files with a data-based digital twin and visual modeling engine. An engine for DevOps, if you will.
CIOs describe why AI agents need APIs
By Bill Doerrfeld July 10, 2025
My latest feature on CIO.com explores why CIOs view APIs as a critical linchpin to realize success with agentic AI. Learn what it'll all take.
AI tooling directorplus doerrfeld one year
By Bill Doerrfeld June 30, 2025
A year into the DirectorPlus newsletter, I check back in with past guests on how their organizations are approaching AI tooling strategies.