34.1 Requirements: what it should and shouldn't do

Overview and links for this section of the guide.

Scope Definition

The "Vibe Coder" assistant must:

  • Read files: It must have access to the current state of the filesystem.
  • Understand ignored files: It must NOT read `.env` or `node_modules`.
  • Edit files: It must be able to propose changes.
  • Run commands: It should be able to run `npm test` or `ls`.

Non-Goals (What to Cut)

To keep this buildable in a weekend, we will NOT build:

  • A full IDE: We will build a CLI or a simple wrapper. We won't rebuild VS Code.
  • Multi-modal vision: We won't ask it to look at screenshots of the app (yet).
  • Autonomous Agents: It will not run in a loop forever. It will run one turn at a time: User Input → AI Thought → AI Action → User Approval.
The "Human in the Loop" Pattern

The most important requirement is safety. The AI never edits a file without you seeing the diff first.

Where to go next