I don’t need you, I can vibe-code the system myself. Goodbye!

This was how he ended the call with me, a few days ago.

I don’t need you, I can do vibe-code the system myself. Goodbye!

This is not something new for me. I have lived through various types of clients and prospects. Many are decent, some are rude, some are unreasonably so.

But c’mon, there is no necessity for you to share with me your thought processes, and neither am I interested in your retort. There are no winners and losers here. I’m a service provider and you are a client. That’s all.

I too am a client for other service providers. If I need a curtain installed, I do not retort to him: “Hey, why are you charging an arm and a leg for putting up some cloth? I will do it myself. Goodbye.”

If I really did think that, then that’s where it will stay: in my thoughts. There is no reason to spurt it out and hurt anyone. It’s, anyway, just a business transaction. You say your needs, you get the quote, you proceed or not. You decide. And move one.

Likewise for me as well, please.

I’m a service provider. You gave me your requirements. I gave you my cost quote. With all your rights bestowed on you, do consider and then tell me your decision. And your decision only. I’m not a counsellor, neither am I a dumping ground. Do NOT dump your emotional baggage or opinions onto me.

Now, let’s talk about vibe-coding — this new-age term that has somehow become gospel for founders, weekend-hustlers, and business owners who watched one too many motivational reels.

So… What on Earth Is “Vibe-Coding”?

Let me break it down: vibe-coding is when someone who barely knows HTML watches a few TikToks, strings some drag-and-drop tools together, and then declares, “I’m basically a developer now.”

It’s like trying to cook laksa by watching a 15-second recipe video with lo-fi music in the background — and then wondering why your family’s in the toilet the rest of the night.

Now don’t get me wrong — I love experimentation. Everyone should try building stuff. But thinking you can replace years of professional dev experience with your “vibes”? That’s like saying you watched Grey’s Anatomy and now you’re ready to perform surgery.

The Rise of the Vibe-Coders

No-code tools like Bubble, Glide, Wix, and friends have made it seem easy. And kudos to them — they’re great tools if you know what you’re doing.

But I’ve seen way too many startup founders start with:

“We just need a simple app that does login, payments, bookings, a dashboard, some analytics, email triggers, automated WhatsApp messaging, GPS tracking, QR code scanning, admin controls, role-based access, real-time syncing, and multi-language support.”

And then immediately follow with:

“I’ll try to build the MVP this weekend. Should be easy, right?”

Right. Just like how I’ll rebuild a condo this weekend because I once played The Sims.

Real Story: The Vibe-Coder Who Came Back

Let me tell you a true story — I’ll call him Jason.

Jason called me last year, said he wanted a web-based inventory system. I gave him a fair quote based on his requirements. He ghosted.

Six months later, I get an email.

Subject: “Urgent Help Needed — System Down”

Turns out, Jason had “vibe-coded” his system using some free tools and ChatGPT prompts. And it was working fine — until the spreadsheet broke, the formulas got overwritten, the free tool expired, and the intern left.

Now his entire business — staff, orders, suppliers — was frozen because “the vibes stopped working.”

He hired me. We rebuilt it properly. But that time, cost, and stress? He could have avoided all of it.

But Developers Are Too Expensive!

Ah yes — the classic argument.

Look, I understand. You want to run lean. You’re a startup. Every dollar counts.

But saying “developers are too expensive” is like saying “brakes are too expensive, I’ll just roll downhill carefully.”

Software is the backbone of your operations. Would you go cheap on the spine?

You’re not paying a developer just to “code stuff.” You’re paying for:

• Clean, scalable architecture
• Future-proof integrations
• Proper security measures
• Automated testing
• Deployment workflows
• Bug tracking
• Updates and long-term support

You may not see the value now. But you will see the cost later — and it’s always much higher.

Why You Shouldn’t Be Rude to Developers (Even If You Think You Don’t Need Them)

Let’s set something straight. This isn’t just about me. This is about every dev out there who’s been treated like a vending machine with StackOverflow inside.

If you think being rude will get you a discount, faster delivery, or better service — you’re absolutely right… in an alternate universe powered by unicorns and broken logic.

In the real world? Rudeness leads to:

• Developers ghosting you
• Projects getting silently delayed
• Feature requests “accidentally” misunderstood
• Absolutely no extra mile effort

Just like how you wouldn’t scream at your barber before a haircut, don’t annoy the guy writing the code for your business.

You Can DIY, But Know What You’re Getting Into

To be fair — DIY is not always bad. If you’re a solo founder testing an idea, or building a personal project, by all means, tinker away.

But please, please manage your expectations.

Don’t launch your MVP on Glide and then expect it to scale like Grab.

Don’t use Airtable as your backend and expect it to handle 50,000 concurrent users without hiccups.

And most importantly, don’t call developers after your vibe-coded ship has hit the iceberg and ask us to “just fix it quickly” because the investor pitch is tomorrow.

Practical Tips for Business Owners (Before You Say Goodbye Again)

1. Start with discovery. Instead of guessing costs, talk to 2–3 developers, share your idea, and understand what’s realistic.
2. Build relationships, not transactions. Find devs who align with your values and vision. They’re not just button-pushers — they’re co-builders.
3. Don’t expect miracles from no-code. They’re powerful but come with limits. Use them wisely, and with support.
4. Respect the craft. Just like you wouldn’t DIY your dental surgery, don’t underestimate software development.
5. Talk like a human. “Hi, thanks for the quote. I’ve decided to explore other options.” Done. No drama. No ego. Everyone wins.

Final Thoughts: The Real Cost of “Doing It Yourself”

Listen — I get it. The startup world is full of hustle, budget constraints, and overnight success stories. And maybe coding looks easy from the outside.

But behind that sleek UI you’re dreaming of? There’s architecture, logic, testing, backups, versioning, CI/CD, and good ol’ “why the heck is this not working on Safari.”

It’s not just typing code — it’s engineering.

And no, not everyone can vibe-code a system that works and scales and survives long enough to not crash during your customer’s checkout.

So the next time you think, “I can do this myself,” pause. Ask:
 “Do I want a working system — or do I want a science project with mood swings?”

Let’s Talk

Have you tried vibe-coding before? Did it work out or was it an expensive lesson?
 Drop a comment, share your story, or tag someone who needs to read this before they crash their next MVP.

Let’s keep the dev-hate down and the respect up. We all just want to build good stuff. Minus the drama.