When You Hire a Vibe Coder
The harsh reality of style over substance in tech hiring
The job listing said “Full Stack Developer” but what we got was something entirely different. It’s a scenario playing out in tech companies everywhere – teams hiring developers who look great on paper, talk impressively in interviews, but deliver code that makes senior engineers wince.
The Promise vs Reality
We needed someone who could take ownership of critical systems – a developer capable of architecting solutions, writing maintainable code, and understanding security implications. What we ended up with was someone who excelled at creating the appearance of productivity while delivering a house of cards.
The Warning Signs
In retrospect, the signals were there: overconfidence in trending technologies, difficulty explaining fundamental concepts clearly, and a portfolio filled with flashy but shallow projects. Yet their energy and enthusiasm masked these red flags during the interview process.
Identifying the Vibe Coder
Copy-Paste Programming
Their codebase resembles a patchwork quilt of StackOverflow snippets, with inconsistent patterns and zero consideration for how the pieces fit together.
Security Afterthoughts
API keys in plaintext JavaScript, missing authentication checks, and SQL injection vulnerabilities that make your security team lose sleep.
The Bug Lasagna
Layers upon layers of quick fixes applied to symptoms rather than addressing root causes, creating a fragile system that collapses with the slightest change.
// Actual code found in production
const API_KEY = “sk_live_51HG8s7CokpGWhjhKMhlKBU”;
function fetchData() {
try {
// API call here
} catch(e) {
// Empty catch block with no error handling
}
}
// A “fix” for an intermittent issue
if (data) {
if (data.results) {
if (data.results.length > 0) {
// Triple-nested conditionals with no fallbacks
}
}
}
The Real Cost
The damage extends far beyond technical debt. Other team members become demoralized as they’re forced to clean up messes. Product deadlines slip as critical features require rewrites. Customer trust erodes with each preventable outage or security incident.
Most frustratingly, the vibe coder often doesn’t realize the impact of their work. They’ll confidently ship broken code and move on to the next exciting feature, leaving others to deal with the consequences.
Lessons Learned
- Technical assessment matters: Include practical coding challenges that test problem-solving, not just trendy framework knowledge
- Look for depth: Ask candidates to explain how things work under the hood
- Check for ownership mentality: Past examples of maintaining and improving systems are more valuable than greenfield projects
- Code quality over quantity: A small, well-crafted portfolio beats numerous half-baked projects
Moving Forward
Good vibes don’t deploy working code or create quality products. While enthusiasm and energy are valuable, they must be paired with technical competence and attention to detail. The best developers combine positive attitude with substance – they understand that their code affects real users and fellow team members.
As for our vibe coder? We invested in training and mentorship, paired them with senior developers, and established clear quality standards. Some rise to the challenge when given proper guidance – others may need to find roles better suited to their current skills.
Share Your Experience
Have you worked with a “vibe coder”? How did you address the situation? What hiring practices have you found effective for identifying developers with substance beneath the style?
