Why Build (Not Just Chat)
🎯 What you'll learn
- →When a custom tool beats ChatGPT
- →The strategic value of rapid prototyping
- →What this approach is—and isn't—good for
Vibecoding is building working software by describing what you want in plain language. No coding required. AI handles the technical parts.
"I want a tool that takes meeting notes and extracts action items with owners and deadlines."
↑ That's it. You describe the outcome, AI builds the tool.
"Can't I just ask ChatGPT to do this?"
Yes—and for one-off tasks, you should. But custom tools have strategic advantages:
Consistency
Your tool follows the same rules every time. ChatGPT might interpret your request differently each session.
Guardrails
You can enforce rules that never break. A customer-facing tool that must never mention competitors will never mention competitors.
Shareability
Send a link to anyone. They use it instantly—no AI subscription or prompting skills required.
Demonstration
Show stakeholders a working prototype instead of explaining an idea. 'Let me show you' beats 'Imagine if...'
What This Is Good For
✓ Great for
- • Testing ideas before committing resources
- • Automating personal/team workflows
- • Building demos for stakeholder buy-in
- • Understanding AI capabilities firsthand
⚠ Not for
- • Production systems with compliance needs
- • Anything handling sensitive data
- • High-scale, mission-critical operations
- • Replacing your engineering team
The point: Prototypes help you make better decisions. Build fast, learn what works, then decide whether to invest in a real solution.
What's the main strategic value of building a prototype?
✅ Key Takeaways
- 1.Prototyping tests ideas before you commit resources
- 2.Custom tools are consistent, shareable, and demonstrate possibilities
- 3.This is for validating ideas, not building production systems