What "Vibe Coded" Actually Means, And How an Audit Tells You Before a Buyer Does
What "vibe coded" actually means (and what it doesn't)
I hear this term a lot lately, so let's start here.
"Vibe coded" describes an app built mostly by prompting an AI tool to generate code. Often without the builder reading or fully understanding every line.
Here's the part people miss. That's not automatically a bad thing.
A vibe coded app can be a completely legitimate, working product. Plenty of good software gets built this way now.
The risk isn't in how it was built. The risk is not knowing what was actually built.
An app can look and function like a real product on the surface. Underneath, it might have stubbed features, untested logic, or code the original builder can't explain.
How vibing coding shows up inside a real codebase: stubs, dead code, and untested paths
When you click through an app, you're testing the surface.
You're not testing what's underneath.
A few things that hide well underneath:
Stubs. Placeholder functions that look finished but don't actually do the thing yet.
Dead code. Leftover logic from an earlier version that never got cleaned up. Sitting there doing nothing, or worse, doing something you don't expect.
Untested paths. Features that work fine in the happy path you clicked through. They fall apart the moment a real user does something slightly different.
None of this shows up when you're just using the app.
It shows up when someone reads the code.
Why this becomes a problem the moment a buyer, developer, or agency looks under the hood
As long as you're the only one touching your app, you can get away with not knowing exactly what's in it.
That changes fast in a few specific moments.
Selling the business. Bringing on a new developer. Handing it off to an agency. Going through due diligence.
In every one of those, someone else is about to rely on your code being what you say it is.
If they find stubs and untested paths before you do, that's not a great conversation to have.
What a Manuscripts audit checks that you can't check yourself
You can click through your own app all day and still miss what's actually in the code.
You built it, or you commissioned it. That doesn't mean you read every line.
A codebase audit is the direct way to find out. It reviews the actual code, line by line.
It flags what's fully functional, what's a stub or placeholder, and what hasn't been tested. Instead of relying on the app appearing to work when you click through it.
Manuscripts is RT Labs' flat-fee version of that audit. It delivers a fact-checked picture of what your codebase actually contains, in a plain-English Owner's edition and a line-by-line Technical edition. Typically within two business days.
Before and after: going from "I don't know what my app does" to a documented, fact-checked codebase
Before: you have an app. You're not fully sure what's real and what's a placeholder. You don't have a clean answer if someone asks you to prove it.
After: you have a documented breakdown of what's actually in your codebase. Language you can understand, and language a developer can verify.
You're not finding out the hard way in front of a buyer or a due-diligence team.
Who actually needs this: founders, buyers, new devs, and agencies inheriting code
Founders who built or commissioned an app and need to know what they actually have.
Buyers doing due diligence on a small software product before they commit.
Teams onboarding a new developer who's about to inherit someone else's decisions.
Agencies picking up a client's codebase and needing to know what they're actually responsible for now.
If you fall into any of these, an audit before you rely on the code as-is is worth having.
How to get a Manuscripts audit and what it costs
Manuscripts starts at $149 for codebases up to 10,000 lines. There's a $399 tier up to 50,000 lines, and an $899 tier up to 150,000 lines. Larger codebases move into a custom consulting engagement.
All pricing above reflects current tiers at time of publishing and is illustrative. Confirm current pricing before making a decision. Not intended as financial, tax, or legal advice. Results will vary based on individual circumstances. Consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.
We do not sell software. We build systems that run, and Manuscripts is how we help you know exactly what's already running in yours.
RT Labs also runs free Discovery Calls if you're not sure which tier fits, or if you're not even sure yet whether you need an audit or something bigger. No pitch, no commitment.
If this sounds like something you or someone you know needs, DM me or book a Discovery Call.
Talk soon, Regie
FAQ
What does "vibe coded" mean?
"Vibe coded" describes an app built mostly by prompting an AI tool to generate code, often without the builder reading, testing, or fully understanding every line it produced. The result can look and function like a real app on the surface while containing stubbed features, untested logic, or code the original builder can't explain.
Is a vibe coded app automatically bad or unsafe?
No. A vibe coded app can be a legitimate, working product. The risk isn't in how it was built but in not knowing what was actually built. The problem is when the founder can't verify what's real versus stubbed, which becomes costly during a sale, a new hire onboarding, or a due-diligence review.
How do I know if my codebase has hidden vibe coding problems?
A codebase audit is the direct way to find out. It reviews the actual code line by line to flag what's fully functional, what's a stub or placeholder, and what hasn't been tested, rather than relying on the app appearing to work when clicked through.
What is a Manuscripts audit?
Manuscripts is a flat-fee AI codebase audit from RT Labs that reviews a codebase and delivers a fact-checked picture of what it actually contains, in both a plain-English Owner's edition and a line-by-line Technical edition, typically within two business days.
Who needs a codebase audit before a vibe coded app changes hands?
Founders who built or commissioned an app and need to know what they actually have, buyers doing due diligence on a small software product, teams onboarding a new developer, and agencies inheriting a client's codebase all benefit from an audit before relying on the code as-is.
How much does a Manuscripts audit cost?
Manuscripts starts at $149 for codebases up to 10,000 lines, with a $399 tier up to 50,000 lines and an $899 tier up to 150,000 lines. Larger codebases move into a custom consulting engagement. Pricing is illustrative and subject to change, confirm current rates before relying on these figures.