Blog
Field notes on fixing AI-built apps: what breaks, why, and how to get it to production.
Latest Posts

8 min read
Password storage audit: hashing, salting, and safe migration
Learn how to run a password storage audit on inherited code, confirm hashing, salting, and peppering, and upgrade hashes safely on next login.
password storage auditrehash on login migration

8 min read
Frontend-backend contract mismatches that break form saves
Frontend-backend contract mismatches make forms look successful while nothing saves. Align DTOs, validation errors, status codes, and pagination formats.
Frontend-backend contract mismatchesDTO alignment

7 min read
Red flags when fixing a broken prototype: “easy” is a warning
Learn red flags when fixing a broken prototype: the missing questions, vague plans, and risky shortcuts that can create new bugs and delays.
red flags when fixing a broken prototypeAI-generated code remediation

6 min read
Reliable counters under concurrency: stop drifting metrics
Learn how to keep reliable counters under concurrency using atomic updates, idempotency keys, and batch writes so metrics stay accurate in production.
reliable counters under concurrencyatomic counter updates

7 min read
Next.js App Router server and client component mixups: fixes
Learn how to spot Next.js App Router server and client component mixups that cause runtime crashes, and how to restructure components, actions, and data fetching.
Next.js App Router server and client component mixupsServer Components vs Client Components

7 min read
Monitoring basics for founders: metrics and alerts to start
Monitoring basics for founders: start with errors, latency, uptime, and queue depth. Use simple alerts and thresholds to catch breakages early.
monitoring basics for foundersstartup metrics and alerts

7 min read
SaaS onboarding flow: 3 steps to value + drop-off tracking
Plan a SaaS onboarding flow that gets users to value in three steps, and set up simple tracking to see where people drop off.
SaaS onboarding flowtime to value steps

8 min read
AI referral program rules: credit, timing, and self-referrals
Create AI referral program rules that define credit, timing, payouts, and self-referral prevention so customers trust the program and disputes stay rare.
AI referral program rulesreferral credit policy

8 min read
AI lead capture funnel: spam-proof routing and reliable storage
Build an AI lead capture funnel that blocks spam, routes inquiries to the right inbox, and stores submissions safely using simple, reliable steps.
AI lead capture funnelspam prevention for forms

8 min read
Client intake checklist for inherited AI code for agencies
Client intake checklist for inherited AI code to ask the right questions, catch risk flags early, and set clear expectations for a 48-72 hour stabilization window.
client intake checklist for inherited AI codeagency onboarding questions for AI-generated code

8 min read
Community app moderation workflow for AI-built communities
A practical plan for a community app moderation workflow: invites, role-based actions, reports, and review steps that keep your space safe.
community app moderation workflowinvitation and onboarding flow

7 min read
What a beta label means: limits, support, and fixes
What beta label means for customers and your team: clear limits, support response times, and what will not be fixed yet, so trust stays intact.
what beta label meansbeta launch expectations

8 min read
Dead-letter queue for background jobs: retries and safe replay
Learn how a dead-letter queue for background jobs helps capture poison messages, cap retries, and replay safely without duplicating side effects.
dead-letter queue for background jobspoison message handling

8 min read
Event ticketing MVP planning: overselling, refunds, transfers
Plan your event ticketing MVP before coding: stop overselling with clear inventory rules, and define refunds and transfers so your first launch runs smoothly.
event ticketing MVPprevent ticket overselling

8 min read
Build a directory site with AI tools: categories, filters, URLs
Build a directory site with AI tools using a simple plan for categories, filters, and SEO-friendly URLs so your listings scale without rework.
build a directory site with AI toolsdirectory categories and filters

8 min read
Feature flags for broken prototypes: ship fixes without chaos
Use feature flags for broken prototypes to isolate risky code, ship partial fixes safely, and cut down on rollbacks while you stabilize.
feature flags for broken prototypesfeature flag rollout

7 min read
Build a donation page with AI tools that works end-to-end
Build a donation page with AI tools with clear receipts, recurring options, and thank-you emails that reliably send. A practical setup and testing plan.
build a donation page with AI toolsdonation receipts setup

8 min read
Choose hosting after a prototype: serverless vs containers
Choose hosting after a prototype with a simple decision table for traffic, background jobs, and databases across serverless, containers, and managed platforms.
choose hosting after a prototypeserverless vs containers

7 min read
Consistent error codes: a small taxonomy and safer logs
Learn how to design consistent error codes, map exceptions to user-safe messages, and log enough to debug without exposing secrets.
consistent error codeserror taxonomy

8 min read
Backup and recovery plan for small apps founders can keep
A lightweight backup and recovery plan for small apps: what to back up, how often, restore drills, and rollbacks founders can keep up with.
backup and recovery plan for small appsrestore drill checklist

8 min read
Production incident checklist for small teams that need clarity
Use this production incident checklist to spot where to look first, roll back safely, communicate clearly, and prevent the same outage from happening again.
production incident checklistincident runbook for small teams

8 min read
Tenant isolation checklist for SaaS prototypes: avoid pitfalls
Use this tenant isolation checklist to spot and fix multi-tenant pitfalls in APIs, storage, background jobs, and analytics before your SaaS prototype ships.
tenant isolation checklistmulti-tenant SaaS

8 min read
Safe large CSV imports for production without app crashes
Learn safe large CSV imports for production: stream parsing, validate each row, allow partial failures, and generate clear error reports without crashing the app.
safe large CSV importsstreaming CSV parsing

7 min read
One-page architecture map for a messy prototype: a practical method
Learn a practical method to build a one-page architecture map from a messy prototype, even when the code has no docs, and make fixes safer and faster.
one-page architecture mapprototype architecture diagram

8 min read
Internal approvals dashboard: permissions, audit trail, undo
Plan and build an internal approvals dashboard with AI tools, with clear permissions, a reliable audit trail, and safe ways to revert decisions.
internal approvals dashboardpermissions and roles model

5 min read
Stable sorting under pagination: stop list items shuffling
Learn how stable sorting under pagination keeps list results consistent by adding tie-breakers, choosing safe sort keys, and using quick checks to prevent shuffles.
stable sorting under paginationdeterministic ordering

8 min read
Alert noise cleanup in a weekend: a practical plan
Do an alert noise cleanup in one weekend: group duplicates, tune thresholds, set routes, and keep real outages visible with a clear checklist.
alert noise cleanupreduce alert fatigue

8 min read
Email verification not working: fix links, tokens, resend logic
Email verification not working? Learn why links, tokens, and resend flows break in AI-generated apps, plus simple fixes for reliability and abuse resistance.
email verification not workingverification link expired

6 min read
API idempotency: stop duplicate creates with retry-safe design
API idempotency helps prevent duplicate creates and double charges by using request IDs, unique constraints, and safe retry rules for your endpoints.
API idempotencyidempotency keys

8 min read
JWT auth problems in prototypes: expiry, refresh, clock skew
JWT auth problems often look random in prototypes. Learn fixes for expiry, refresh rotation, clock skew, and safe token storage patterns.
JWT auth problemsJWT refresh token rotation

8 min read
Minimal test suite for AI-generated code that stays stable
Build a minimal test suite for AI-generated code using smoke, API contract, and regression tests that stop fixed features from breaking again.
minimal test suite for AI-generated codesmoke tests for unstable apps

8 min read
Data retention policy: store less data and reduce risk
A practical data retention policy approach: decide what to collect, why you need it, how long to keep it, and how to delete it safely.
data retention policydata minimization

8 min read
Prompts for maintainable code: constraints for folders and naming
Write prompts for maintainable code by adding clear rules for folder structure, naming, and configuration so AI output stays easy to debug and ship.
prompts for maintainable codeAI coding prompt template

8 min read
Fix it works on my machine config issues for dev, staging, prod
Fix it works on my machine config issues with clear dev, staging, prod separation, env var validation, and simple checks that prevent runtime surprises.
fix it works on my machine config issuesdev staging prod configuration

8 min read
Web Vitals debugging for AI-built frontends: pinpoint fixes
Web Vitals debugging made practical: track LCP, CLS, and INP to specific components, fix layout shifts, and confirm gains after each change.
Web Vitals debuggingLCP troubleshooting

8 min read
Refactor messy codebase structure without breaking production
Refactor messy codebase with a practical plan for folder boundaries, naming, module extraction, and small PRs that keep behavior stable.
refactor messy codebasecodebase folder structure

6 min read
Habit tracker app streaks: define rules and handle time zones
Set clear habit tracker app streaks rules, handle time zones and daylight saving changes, and prevent false resets so users trust your tracker.
habit tracker app streaksstreak rules

8 min read
Markdown XSS vulnerabilities: safe rich-text sanitizing steps
Markdown XSS vulnerabilities can hide inside comments and notes. Learn safe HTML sanitizing, embed restrictions, and how to test real payloads before launch.
Markdown XSS vulnerabilitiesrich-text comment security

7 min read
Where your app is hosted: find repo, hosting, DB, domain
Learn where your app is hosted by quickly locating your repo, hosting, database, and domain settings so support and fixes can start faster.
where your app is hostedfind app repository

7 min read
Phased rebuild plan: start with the critical path first
Learn a phased rebuild plan that starts with the critical path, proves stability, then adds secondary features without breaking production.
phased rebuild plancritical path first

7 min read
Security questions before connecting Stripe, Google, or Slack
Security questions before connecting Stripe: check permissions and scopes, token storage, least privilege, logging, and what to do if a token is stolen.
security questions before connecting StripeOAuth scopes and permissions checklist

8 min read
Replace string status fields with enums to stop workflow typos
Replace string status fields with enums and prevent small typos like canceled vs cancelled from breaking order, approval, and payment workflows.
replace string status fields with enumsenum refactor checklist

7 min read
Set up source maps safely to read production frontend errors
Learn how to set up source maps safely so production frontend errors map back to the exact file and line, without exposing your source code.
set up source maps safelyminified stack trace

8 min read
Time zone safe scheduling rules for storing dates and times
Time zone safe scheduling rules to store UTC consistently, validate user locale, and avoid mixing date-only fields with timestamps in apps.
time zone safe schedulingstore dates in UTC

7 min read
File upload security for prototype apps: practical safeguards
File upload security for prototype apps: set size limits, validate real file types, store uploads privately, scan for malware, and avoid public bucket leaks.
file upload securityMIME type validation

7 min read
Cross-browser QA for AI-generated UIs: Safari/iOS test script
Cross-browser QA for AI-generated UIs with a practical Safari/iOS-focused test script covering viewport sizing, safe areas, and form controls that often break.
cross-browser QA for AI-generated UIsSafari iOS UI quirks

8 min read
Service boundary map: stop accidental coupling in your code
Build a service boundary map to document domains, data ownership, and dependencies so teams ship changes without accidental coupling.
service boundary mapdomain mapping

8 min read
Serverless cron jobs: stop overlaps and detect silent failures
Make serverless cron jobs reliable: choose a scheduler, block concurrent runs with locks, and add a last-ran heartbeat with alerts.
serverless cron jobsprevent concurrent runs

8 min read
Concurrency limits for background workers that protect your DB
Concurrency limits for background workers keep DB load steady by capping parallel jobs and queue depth. Learn simple rules, quick checks, and an example.
concurrency limits for background workersbackground job throttling

7 min read
Stuck job detection: heartbeats, timeouts, and alerts
Learn stuck job detection with simple heartbeats, sensible timeouts, and clear alerts so you can tell if work is slow, failed, or truly stuck.
stuck job detectionbackground job monitoring

8 min read
Runbook template for recurring production issues you can reuse
Use a runbook template for recurring production issues to turn frequent errors into clear steps with commands, owners, and verification checks your team can follow.
runbook template for recurring production issuesincident response checklist

8 min read
Recover GitHub and Hosting Access When a Freelancer Owns It
Learn how to recover GitHub and hosting access when everything was created under a freelancer's email, with steps, scripts, and safe fallbacks.
recover GitHub and hosting accessfreelancer account ownership

8 min read
AI-built app is slow: fix N+1 queries and missing indexes
AI-built app is slow? Start with the top database issues: N+1 queries, missing indexes, unbounded scans, and chatty ORMs, with quick fixes.
AI-built app is slowN+1 query troubleshooting

7 min read
Simple CRM with AI tools: minimum stages and fields
Build a simple CRM with AI tools by choosing the minimum pipeline stages and fields so reports stay clean, data stays consistent, and growth does not create chaos.
simple CRM with AI toolsminimum CRM pipeline stages

8 min read
Fix Email Sending Problems in Production: SMTP, DNS, Retries
Fix email sending problems in production by checking SMTP or API settings, DNS (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), spam triggers, bounces, and retry logic.
fix email sending problems in productionSMTP troubleshooting

8 min read
Database refactor checklist for moving a prototype to production
Use this database refactor checklist to take a prototype schema to production: naming, constraints, indexes, foreign keys, data types, and rollback steps.
database refactor checklistproduction database hardening

8 min read
Billing enforcement bugs: fix plan checks and webhook gaps
Billing enforcement bugs can quietly leak revenue. Learn to fix plan checks, webhook edge cases, and upgrade race conditions in your SaaS.
billing enforcement bugsSaaS plan checks

8 min read
Bug report template founders can use to get fixes faster
Use this bug report template to give engineers clear steps, expected vs actual behavior, environment details, and a smallest reproducible case they can fix.
bug report templatehow to write a bug report

8 min read
Known issues page in app: reduce support load with workarounds
Add a known issues page in app to publish workarounds, set expectations, and reduce tickets while fixes ship.
known issues page in appin-app release notes

7 min read
Prevent Double Submits: Safe Button Clicks Without Confusion
Prevent double submits with clear UI states, request tokens, and server checks so users do not trigger duplicate charges or repeated actions.
prevent double submitsidempotency keys

8 min read
Consent logging for terms and privacy changes, versioned
Set up consent logging for terms and privacy changes by storing what the user agreed to, when, and from where, with minimal UI and database changes.
consent logging for terms and privacy changesversioned consent records

8 min read
Run-once backfill tool guardrails for safe internal scripts
Run-once backfill tool guardrails to keep data safe: tight access control, dry-run previews, progress logs, and protections against repeat runs.
run-once backfill toolbackfill script safety

8 min read
When to add integrations to an MVP: a simple framework
Use a clear framework for when to add integrations to an MVP, so one more tool does not destabilize your core flow and delay stabilization.
when to add integrations to an MVPMVP stabilization checklist

7 min read
First remediation call: what to bring to get answers fast
Prepare for your first remediation call with the right links, error examples, and access so the team can diagnose issues quickly and give clear next steps.
first remediation callAI-generated app fixes

7 min read
Secure org invitation links: expiry, single-use, safe reuse
Secure org invitation links with expiring, single-use tokens, safe email reuse rules, and clear behavior when orgs are deleted or users are removed.
secure org invitation linksinvite token expiry

8 min read
Privacy risks in AI-built apps: 5 mistakes founders miss
Privacy risks in AI-built apps are often simple: public links, open admin pages, and exposed keys. Learn quick checks and fixes any founder can do.
privacy risks in AI-built appspublic links security

6 min read
Build an inventory app with AI tools that never goes negative
Build an inventory app with AI tools and prevent negative stock using simple receive, sell, and adjustment rules you can test before you deploy.
build an inventory app with AI toolsinventory app stock rules

8 min read
Emails from the Right Domain: Sender Identity and Spam Checks
Learn how to confirm emails from the right domain, what sender identity really means, why messages hit spam, and the exact provider settings to check.
emails from the right domainsender identity

7 min read
Dependency pinning strategy for stable, repeatable deploys
Use a dependency pinning strategy to stop surprise updates, control transitive packages, and ship repeatable builds across dev, CI, and prod.
dependency pinning strategylockfiles and version locks

8 min read
Build a support chatbot page: data access and human handoff
Build a support chatbot page that stays safe: choose what data it can access, set clear limits, and route tricky cases to humans fast.
build a support chatbot pagechatbot data access rules

8 min read
Proof list after deployment: what to ask for after a fix
Ask for a proof list after deployment to confirm what changed: URLs to check, screenshots, timestamps, and a simple checklist for review.
proof list after deploymentdeployment verification checklist

8 min read
Prevent client-side waterfall fetches to speed up your app
Prevent client-side waterfall fetches by running requests in parallel or aggregating them on the server, reducing load time and time-to-interactive.
prevent client-side waterfall fetchesparallel API requests

8 min read
Add MFA to a Prototype App Without Breaking Logins
Add MFA to a prototype app with minimal risk: pick TOTP or passkeys, set up recovery codes, and roll out in phases with clear fallback paths.
add MFA to a prototype appTOTP vs passkeys

7 min read
RCE risk scan for Node apps: spot dangerous code fast
RCE risk scan for Node apps to spot eval, unsafe child_process calls, template injection, and risky dynamic imports often found in AI-generated code.
RCE risk scan for Node appsNode.js eval security

6 min read
Prompt versioning: a simple way to track changes and revert
Prompt versioning made simple: log what you asked, what changed, and why, so you can compare outputs, roll back fast, and reduce regressions.
prompt versioningprompt change log

7 min read
Staging Environment Parity Checklist: Predict Production Issues
Use this staging environment parity checklist to match auth, webhooks, storage, cron, and flags so staging failures mirror production before release.
staging environment parity checkliststaging vs production

8 min read
Lightweight helpdesk with AI tools that teams will use
Build a lightweight helpdesk with AI tools that tracks status, ownership, and notifications without bloat, so your team actually uses it daily.
lightweight helpdesk with AI toolshelpdesk status tracking

8 min read
Consolidate two auth systems without breaking existing users
Learn how to consolidate two auth systems safely: choose the right one, migrate users, remove extra cookies and tables, and roll out without surprise logouts.
consolidate two auth systemsremove duplicate auth cookies

8 min read
Check who can access admin pages with incognito tests
Learn how to check who can access admin pages using incognito mode and a second test user, plus quick checks to confirm routes are truly private.
check who can access admin pagesprivate route testing

8 min read
CDN caching for Next.js: cache headers without user leaks
CDN caching for Next.js speeds up pages and assets, but bad headers can cache user data. Learn what to cache, header examples, and traps.
CDN caching for Next.jsNext.js Cache-Control headers

8 min read
Rebuild app without changing database: cutover plan that works
Learn how to rebuild app without changing database with a safe cutover plan that preserves accounts and history, using staged rollout and rollback.
rebuild app without changing databasedatabase cutover plan

8 min read
Field-level encryption: what to encrypt, keys, migrations
Field-level encryption helps protect sensitive fields while keeping your app usable. Learn what to encrypt, how to manage keys, and migrate safely.
field-level encryptionencrypt database columns

8 min read
Keep sales moving while app is being fixed: simple playbook
Keep sales moving while app is being fixed with simple customer messaging, practical workarounds, and clear expectations for early customers.
keep sales moving while app is being fixedtemporary workarounds for a broken app

8 min read
API-aligned form validation to stop bad data at the source
API-aligned form validation keeps client and server rules consistent, so users see clear errors before submit and requests stop failing for avoidable reasons.
API-aligned form validationclient-side validation

6 min read
Storage bucket exposure audit: stop public files and listing
Storage bucket exposure audit checklist to spot public ACLs, risky defaults, and unsafe upload rules so private user files stay private.
storage bucket exposure auditpublic ACL check

7 min read
Stop prompting and start debugging: escape regen loops fast
Learn when to stop prompting and start debugging by spotting regen loops, isolating root causes, and knowing when a human-led diagnosis saves time.
stop prompting and start debuggingregen loop signs

8 min read
Data dictionary for a prototype database that avoids breakages
Learn how to create a data dictionary for a prototype database so table and column changes do not break reporting, billing, or exports.
data dictionary for a prototype databasedatabase documentation template

5 min read
Delete account safely: revoke access, tokens, and billing
Delete account safely with a practical runbook to revoke sessions, detach OAuth tokens, cancel subscriptions, and protect shared workspaces.
delete account safelyrevoke sessions

7 min read
Logging cost control for prototypes: retention, sampling, redaction
Logging cost control: set retention tiers, sampling rules, and redaction so fast-growing prototypes keep useful logs without surprise bills.
logging cost controllog retention policy

7 min read
Invite-only beta testing: access control and success criteria
Invite-only beta testing helps you learn fast without breaking trust. Set access control, define success criteria, and collect feedback with less chaos.
invite-only beta testingbeta access control

7 min read
EMFILE too many open files Node: debug it in production
EMFILE too many open files Node errors often come from leaked handles in AI-generated apps. See common causes and quick production checks to confirm the fix.
EMFILE too many open files NodeNode.js file descriptor leak

7 min read
Customer can see someone else's data: what to do first
If a customer can see someone else's data, contain it fast, capture the right evidence, and send clear updates while you fix the root cause.
customer can see someone else's datadata exposure incident response

7 min read
Access ownership checklist before you hire development help
Use this access ownership checklist to confirm you control repo, hosting, DB, domain, email, and analytics before hiring help so fixes do not stall.
access ownership checklistrepository admin access

7 min read
Document approval workflow with AI tools you can trust
Build a document approval workflow with AI tools that logs approvers, timestamps, versions, and decisions so you can prove who approved what and when.
document approval workflow with AI toolsaudit trail for approvals

8 min read
Invoicing app data model: customers, invoices, totals that work
Invoicing app data model: model customers, invoices, line items, and payment status so totals stay correct, auditable, and easy to maintain.
invoicing app data modelAI-built invoicing app

8 min read
Remove debug endpoints before launch: find and secure routes
Remove debug endpoints before launch by searching your codebase for seed and test routes, then deleting them or protecting them with admin auth.
remove debug endpoints before launchdebug routes in production

8 min read
Simple analytics dashboard: 5 clear metrics with AI tools
Build a simple analytics dashboard with AI tools by choosing 5 precise metrics, defining formulas, and adding checks so numbers stay trustworthy.
simple analytics dashboarddefine product metrics

6 min read
Protect customer data in app demos with safe demo setups
Learn how to protect customer data in app demos using fake records, a dedicated demo workspace, and simple checks so real names and emails never show.
protect customer data in app demosdemo environment setup

8 min read
AI-built apps fail with real users: 3 demo traps to spot
AI-built apps fail with real users when demos skip edge cases. See login, email, and payment scenarios, plus checks to harden your app before launch.
AI-built apps fail with real usersdemo vs production app

8 min read
One-page product spec for AI builds: screens, fields, rules
Learn how to write a one-page product spec that AI builders can follow, using clear screens, data fields, and rules so the build is predictable.
one-page product specAI app requirements

8 min read
AI-built app handoff: clean steps to take over safely
AI-built app handoff steps to avoid lost logins, missing code, hidden costs, and security gaps when taking over a freelancer-made app.
AI-built app handofffreelancer app takeover checklist

7 min read
Time tracking app with AI tools: rounding, approvals, exports
Plan rounding, approvals, and exports before you build a time tracking app with AI tools so payroll runs cleanly and managers trust the numbers.
time tracking app with AI toolspayroll rounding rules