Words That Shape the Workflow

From Edgar,

Welcome to A Vibe Coder, my newsletter where I upload my thoughts on current tech trends, experiements, and vibe coding best practices.

Shilling Myself

Little Phrases That Save Big Mistakes

When you’re coding with AI, the speed can feel like magic. This is a trap, especially if you blindly trust what’s generated. Models can jump ahead, turning rough thoughts into half-finished code before you’ve even agreed on the plan. That’s why I’ve built a small toolkit of phrases I rely on when vibe coding. They help me slow down, be deliberate, and keep the process a conversation instead of bad improv.

“No code changes.”
Sometimes an LLM rushes to write code too soon. Saying this forces a pause. It keeps the focus on ideas and reasoning before anything gets typed out.

“Let me know how you plan to do this.”
For bigger changes, I want a map first. Asking for a plan shows me whether we’re aligned. If not, I’d rather catch it before the code is written.

“When you finish, let’s stop to review the next steps.”
Every change needs a breath. This prevents a pile of half-baked edits. A quick review makes sure each step is solid before moving on.

“Ask me questions if you need me to clarify anything.”
The worst mistakes happen when the model guesses. Inviting questions makes the process more collaborative and pushes me to be clearer about what I want.

“Let’s investigate and find a root cause before we continue.”
Errors can lead to frantic guessing and wasted time. Stopping to find the root cause keeps us from chasing ghosts and keeps progress real.

These phrases are small, but together they shape the way I work. Each phrase is a brake pedal, a way to pause, align, and make choices that stick. That rhythm makes the process steadier, clearer, and ultimately more satisfying.

Thank Y’all

What are phrases you commonly say to AI? I’d love to hear them.

I’m active on socials, relevant links found at tini.la/edgar.

Share if this helped you.

Till next time,

Edgar | A Vibe Coder