AI Coding Workflows
Structured workflows for building software with AI, from your first prototype to production-grade team processes. Every workflow links to real tools, real prompts, and decision checkpoints.
How to Use This Hub
Start with the workflow category that matches where you are right now. Each section links to in-depth guides with specific tools, prompts, and step-by-step instructions. If you're unsure, begin with Getting Started Workflows and work your way up.
Anti-Drift Workflows
Structured workflows that prevent AI coding sessions from losing context or drifting off-spec as projects grow.
The Vibe Coder's Guide to Anti-Drift Workflows
Compare PRD.md, Spec-Kit, Planning with Files, and Ralph Wiggum Loop.
Read guideGitHub Spec Kit Review
Spec-driven development for AI coding, scaffold specs, plans, and tasks in your repo.
Read guideRalph Wiggum Loop Review
The iterative loop pattern for keeping AI agents on track in multi-file projects.
Read guideGetting Started Workflows
Step-by-step workflows for building your first project with AI tools, from idea to deployed app.
4 Real Vibe Coding Workflows You Can Use Today
Solo dev MVP, designer landing page, team code review, and debugging recovery workflows.
Read guideHow to Vibe Code
The foundational guide to getting started with AI-assisted development.
Read guideBuild Your First App With a Vibe Coding Tool
A beginner-friendly guide to shipping your first project with Lovable or Bolt.new.
Read guideAdvanced & Team Workflows
Workflows for experienced developers and teams integrating AI into established development processes.
Advanced Vibe Coding Techniques
Go beyond basics, multi-file refactors, context management, and production-grade patterns.
Read guidePrompt Engineering for AI Code Tools
The 5 golden rules for talking to AI coding assistants effectively.
Read guideMastering Cursor Composer
Deep dive into Cursor's multi-file editing workflow for complex projects.
Read guideTool-Specific Workflows
Optimised workflows built around specific AI coding tools and their unique capabilities.
Debugging & Recovery
Workflows for when things go wrong, debugging AI-generated code and recovering from broken states.
How AI Coding Workflows Work in 2026
Why Most AI Coding Sessions Stall After 30 Minutes
The first half-hour with any AI coding tool feels magical. The second hour usually doesn't. The reason is almost always the same: the agent has lost context. Either the conversation grew past its effective window, the constraints you set at the start got summarised away, or the agent started inventing patterns it would not have invented at minute 5. A workflow is the discipline that keeps the next hour as productive as the first. The most reliable workflows codify constraints into a file the agent re-reads every session, structure work into discrete tasks the agent can finish independently, and force a review checkpoint before the agent moves on.
Plan, Prompt, Review, Iterate: The Four-Step Spine
Every workflow in this hub fits one shape. Plan: write a short spec with constraints and acceptance criteria. Prompt: hand the spec to the agent with explicit instructions on what to build. Review: read the diff, run the tests, verify the output. Iterate: tighten the spec, re-prompt, re-review. The workflows differ in how heavily they invest in each step. Rapid prototyping leans on quick prompts and minimal planning. Team workflows formalise plan and review into shared artifacts. Anti-drift workflows add a continuous re-grounding step where you remind the agent of the original constraints before each new task.
Spec-First vs Vibe-First: Pick by Stakes
Spec-first workflows write the requirements before the code: GitHub Spec Kit, PRD.md patterns, Planning with Files. Vibe-first workflows start with a working prototype and add structure later. Spec-first is right when the cost of shipping the wrong thing is high (production code, multi-week features, team handoffs). Vibe-first is right when the cost of shipping nothing is higher (weekend MVPs, demo prototypes, internal tools). Knowing which mode you are in saves time. Mixing them halfway through a project costs more than either approach alone.
The Workflow Pattern Most Teams Underuse
Worktrees plus parallel agents is the most underrated workflow in this category. Instead of one agent working sequentially on five tasks, spin up five Git worktrees and run five agents in parallel, one per task. Each agent has its own clean state, no context bleed between tasks, and the wall-clock time for the batch drops by 3 to 5x. The pattern works because most agent latency is API round-trip, not local CPU. It scales until you saturate either your model rate limit or your ability to review the resulting PRs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vibe coding workflow?
A vibe coding workflow is a structured sequence of steps for building software with AI coding tools. It defines how you plan, prompt, review, and iterate, turning AI assistance into reliable, shippable output instead of random code generation.
Which workflow should I start with?
If you're new, start with the Getting Started workflows. If you're already building but losing context on larger projects, jump to Anti-Drift Workflows. Teams should look at Advanced & Team Workflows for structured collaboration patterns.
How often are workflow guides updated?
Workflow guides are updated as tools evolve and new patterns emerge. Each guide shows its last-updated date. The AI coding landscape moves fast, so we prioritise keeping workflow guidance current over feature lists.
What is context drift and why does it matter?
Context drift is when an AI agent gradually loses track of the constraints, conventions, or goals you set at the start of a session. Output quality decays, the agent starts re-implementing patterns you already rejected, and bugs reappear. Anti-drift workflows (spec files, cursor rules, structured task lists) prevent drift by keeping the constraints in the agent's working context across long sessions.
Do I need a different workflow for each AI tool?
No. The high-level workflow (plan, prompt, review, iterate) is tool-agnostic. The specific commands and file conventions change between Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf, and Aider, but the shape of the work is the same. Pick a workflow once, adapt the implementation per tool.
How are workflows different from skills?
Skills are reusable knowledge packages (a prompt pattern, a domain expertise file). Workflows are the sequence of steps you take to use them. A workflow might call on five different skills at different stages. Skills are the building blocks; workflows are the recipes.
Are these workflows for solo developers or teams?
Both, with different sections. Solo workflows (Rapid Prototyping, Getting Started) prioritise speed and iteration. Team workflows (Advanced, Anti-Drift) add structure for handoff, code review, and shared specs. The same underlying patterns scale up or down with the team size.