Part I — Foundations: The Minimum You Need to Not Get Lost
Overview and links for this section of the guide.
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What this part is for
Part I gives you the minimum mental models you need to collaborate with an LLM without getting lost. You’ll learn what to trust, what to verify, and how to keep the “vibe loop” productive instead of chaotic.
Why start here
Most failures in AI-assisted building aren’t “model problems.” They’re workflow problems: unclear specs, oversized changes, missing verification, and drifting constraints.
What you’ll walk away with
- A clear mental model of what LLMs are doing (and why they can sound confident while being wrong).
- Practical intuition for context limits, randomness controls, and verification habits.
- A repeatable development style for fast iteration that still respects architecture and correctness.
- Language for tradeoffs: when vibe coding is a superpower vs when it’s risky.
How to use this part
Read Part I with the goal of upgrading your loop, not memorizing concepts.
- Skim first: get the map of what’s here.
- Then apply: use the ideas immediately in a small project or prompt session.
- Come back often: these sections become more valuable as your projects get bigger.
A good pace
One subsection, one practical exercise: write a prompt, generate code, run it, and note what surprised you.
Sections in Part I
Where to go next
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Part I — Foundations: The Minimum You Need to Not Get Lost sub-sections
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