Why Software Engineering Still Matters in Web Application Development: The Hidden Dangers of Vibe Coding

Author: Mbonglen Favour Nkeh
Introduction

Technology has changed the way we live, learn, communicate, and do business. Today, almost everything can be done online, from registering for school and making payments to shopping and accessing medical services. Behind many of these activities are web applications.

With the growth of artificial intelligence, creating web applications has become easier than ever. Developers can now describe what they want to build, and AI tools can generate the code within minutes. This has introduced a new approach to programming known as vibe coding.

At first, this sounds like a great development. Why spend hours writing code when an AI tool can do it in a few minutes? However, there is something important we should not forget: creating an application that works is not the same as creating one that is secure, reliable, and efficient.

This is where software engineering becomes important.

Software engineering gives developers a proper way to plan, design, develop, test, and maintain applications. Without these practices, we may end up creating applications that look good on the outside but have serious problems behind the scenes.

In this article, I will discuss why software engineering is important in web application development, the disadvantages of relying too much on vibe coding, and the risks of building applications without following proper software engineering practices.

Understanding Software Engineering

Software engineering is simply the process of applying engineering principles to software development. It is not just about writing lines of code; it involves thinking about the entire system before, during, and after development.

For example, imagine someone wants to develop a school registration system. Before writing any code, the developer needs to understand how students will register, how administrators will manage information, where student records will be stored, and how the system will protect users’ information.

These questions are part of software engineering.

Some of the major activities involved include:

• Requirement gathering and analysis.
• System design and planning.
• Coding and implementation.
• Testing and debugging.
• Deployment.
• Maintenance and documentation.

Following these steps helps developers avoid unnecessary mistakes and produce software that actually meets users’ needs.

Why Is Software Engineering Important in Web Applications?

Web applications are used by thousands, and sometimes millions, of people. This means that a small mistake in an application can affect many users.

Software engineering helps prevent such problems in several ways.

1. It helps developers understand what they are building.

Before developing an application, developers need to understand what users expect from it. Proper requirement analysis prevents developers from wasting time building features that are not needed.

1. It improves security.

Many web applications handle sensitive information such as passwords, financial records, and personal details. Software engineering encourages developers to consider security from the beginning rather than waiting until something goes wrong.

1. It makes applications easier to maintain.

An application does not stop developing after it has been launched. New features may be required, errors may appear, and technology may change. Well-organized code makes these changes easier.

1. It improves performance and reliability.

Nobody enjoys using an application that takes several minutes to load or crashes whenever many people try to access it. Proper system design and testing help prevent these problems.

1. It encourages teamwork.

Most serious applications are developed by teams. Software engineering provides methods such as version control, documentation, and code reviews that allow developers to work together without constantly interfering with one another’s work.

What Is Vibe Coding, and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?

Vibe coding is a modern approach to software development where a person uses natural-language prompts to instruct an AI tool to generate code.

Instead of writing everything manually, the developer explains what they want, and the AI produces the code.

For example, someone could tell an AI tool:

“Build a school management web application with student registration, login, an administrator dashboard, and a database.”

Within a short time, the AI might generate a working application.

Tools such as ChatGPT, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and Replit AI have made this approach increasingly popular.

I believe AI-assisted development is useful, especially for learning, experimenting, and building prototypes. However, the problem begins when developers depend entirely on generated code without understanding what is happening behind the scenes.

Just because an AI-generated application works does not automatically mean it is properly developed.

The Hidden Dangers of Vibe Coding

Vibe coding has made programming more accessible, but it also comes with challenges that developers should take seriously.

1. Security problems

AI may generate code that contains vulnerabilities. For example, a login system might work correctly but fail to protect users’ passwords properly.

If such an application is released without security testing, attackers may find ways to access private information.

1. Developers may not understand their own code

Imagine asking an AI to build an entire application and then discovering an error that you cannot explain or fix.

A developer should understand the code they are responsible for, especially when the application is being used by real people.

1. Hidden errors

Sometimes generated code looks perfect but contains logical mistakes. These errors may not appear immediately. They might only become noticeable when many users start using the application.

1. Poor code organization

AI can generate code that works but is not properly structured. As the application becomes bigger, making changes can become difficult and frustrating.

1. Privacy risks

If an application does not handle information properly, users’ personal details may be exposed. This is particularly dangerous for banking, healthcare, and educational applications.

1. Overdependence on artificial intelligence

Some developers may become too dependent on AI. Instead of learning how to solve problems, debug errors, and understand programming concepts, they simply keep asking AI to fix everything.

AI should help developers improve their skills, not prevent them from developing those skills.

What Happens When We Build Web Applications Without Software Engineering?

Let us consider a practical example.

Suppose a developer decides to create an online student registration platform. The developer uses AI to generate the entire application without properly analyzing requirements, designing the system, or testing the code.

At first, everything appears to work. Students can register, log in, and view their dashboards.

However, after some time, problems begin to appear:

• Some students register more than once.
• Unauthorized users gain access to student records.
• Passwords are not properly protected.
• The database contains incorrect information.
• The application becomes slow when many students access it.
• Nobody understands how certain parts of the code work.

Now imagine that this system is being used by an entire university.

The consequences could be serious. Students might lose important records, personal information could be exposed, and the school could lose confidence in the system.

The problem is not necessarily that the developer used AI. The problem is that the developer ignored the engineering practices needed to make the application dependable.

This example shows why software engineering should never be treated as an unnecessary step.

How Can We Use AI Without Abandoning Software Engineering?

I do not think developers should stop using AI. Technology is meant to make our work easier, and AI can be a very helpful development partner.

However, we need to use it responsibly.

Here are some practices developers should follow:

1. Understand the problem before asking AI to generate a solution.
2. Gather and document the system requirements.
3. Design the application before implementation.
4. Read and understand AI-generated code.
5. Check for security vulnerabilities.
6. Test every important feature.
7. Use Git and GitHub to manage code changes.
8. Document the system properly.
9. Regularly update and maintain the application.

The important thing is to remain in control of the development process.

AI can suggest a solution, but the developer must decide whether that solution is correct, secure, and suitable for the intended users.

Conclusion

The rise of artificial intelligence has changed software development, and there is no doubt that tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot can make developers more productive. Vibe coding can also help beginners turn their ideas into working applications without having to write every line of code themselves.

However, we should not allow convenience to replace understanding.

Building a web application is not simply about making buttons work, creating attractive interfaces, or generating hundreds of lines of code. It is about creating something that people can depend on.

Without software engineering, applications may become insecure, unreliable, difficult to maintain, and expensive to manage.

In my opinion, the best developers of the future will not necessarily be those who can generate code the fastest. They will be those who understand how to use technology, apply proper engineering principles, identify problems, and create solutions that genuinely work.

At the end of the day, AI can help us write code, but it takes software engineering knowledge to build software that people can trust.