vibecoding.au · Ian Piggott · Optional desk handout for Step 3 · Educational only (not legal or security advice) · Print or Save as PDF

First-session checklist

Avoid “build me an app” → burn credits (money) → quit. One small thing you can click. Keep this sheet open; tool in a second tab. Full guide: https://www.vibecoding.au/get-started/

1. Before the tool (do first)

□ Timer 30–60 min
□ One sentence: what I’m building today (not “full app”)
□ 3 must-nots (e.g. no accounts · no fake stats · no payments · no dashboards · no private data in chat)
□ New empty project only (sandbox)
□ Free-tier / credit limit noted (credits often mean money)
□ Optional: prompt filled in Notes for one paste

2. When you start the clock

□ Tool in second tab; this sheet still open
□ Empty project → paste prompt once
□ One click-path start→finish before extras
□ Fix one problem at a time (short follow-up)
□ Rough clicks (smoke-check): empty submit · refresh · double-click
□ Notes: works / shaky · close tool · stop

3. Prompt (CONTEXT · SCOPE · CONSTRAINTS)

CONTEXT:
I am a beginner. Today I only need: ____

SCOPE:
Build only: ____
Must include: ____

CONSTRAINTS:
- No accounts / no fake stats / no payments (edit as needed)
- Works on a phone-width screen
- Do not invent features outside SCOPE
- At the end, list anything I should double-check

--- example (todo list) ---
CONTEXT:
I am new to vibe coding. Today I only need a simple todo list I can use on my phone.

SCOPE:
One page: add items, tick done, keep list after refresh, friendly empty message. Phone-width layout.

CONSTRAINTS:
No sign-up. No fake stats. No payments. No dashboards. Keep it simple.

4. Score

Pass	Click through the main thing without constant fail
Partial	Core idea works; messy — still a win
Fail	Broken / opaque — make the brief smaller and retry

5. Done for today when…

□ Main thing is clickable (even if rough)
□ Know which tool + practice project
□ Short notes written
□ Stopped — no polish spiral burning credits

6. Later only (not night one)

Real users / private data / money → vibecoding.au/production-hardening/ (educational notes only)

□ Two users cannot see each other’s data
□ No secret keys in browser or chat
□ Logout ends the session
□ Errors don’t leak private details

7. Path

1 Understand → 2 Tool → 3 Session → 4 Lab (night one) · Step 5 later
https://www.vibecoding.au/

Independent educational resource. Not affiliated with tool makers. Not legal or security advice. https://www.vibecoding.au/disclaimer/