Build it or buy it? Vibecoding with Joe Casabona

AI coding tools have made it possible for anyone to build an app by just describing what they want. And solopreneurs are doing exactly that—from quiz tools to iOS apps to full CRMs. However, there’s a lot more to this conversation. In this episode, we’re joined by Joe Casabona of the Streamlined Solopreneur. Joe has a master’s in software engineering and spent 20+ years as a developer before pivoting to help solopreneurs build systems that let them actually take time off. He’s been deep in the vibe coding world—building iOS apps, beta reader tools, and more—and has strong opinions about what’s worth your time and what isn’t.We get into what vibe coding actually is, which tools people are using, and how code goes from running in a sandbox to something real people can access. This isn’t a “vibe coding is the future” episode. It’s an honest look at the tradeoffs—security, cost, opportunity cost, and the sneaky way tinkering can start to parade as productivity.* What vibe coding actually is, and which tools solopreneurs are talking about most (Lovable, Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Replit)* How code goes from a thing running on your computer to something actual humans can access and use* The types of projects that are good candidates for vibe coding—and the ones you should probably leave alone* What happens when vibe coding gets you to 80% but can’t get you the rest of the way* Security risks that are easy to miss: exposed API keys, plain text credentials, and more* HIPAA, PCI compliance, and other reasons to think carefully before vibe coding certain apps—no matter how cool they sound* The “procrastination parades as productivity” trap, and how to tell if your tinkering is actually serving your business* Why token costs matter more than most people are factoring in right now* Joe’s lawnmower test: when just paying for the tool is the smarter move* The 10-point framework Joe uses before starting any vibe coded project"When you vibe code something and something goes wrong, it is a very helpless feeling if the AI can't fix it, because now you are taking something that you didn't write that you may not be familiar with. With my iOS app, it was like, 'There's something wrong with P list.' And I'm like, 'What is P list? Like, I don't know what that is. Can you just fix it?' And it's like, no. At some point you will hit this plateau where you can't take the app any further or something is broken. And you either just have to shrug or actually hire a developer to fix it." — JoeAbout our GuestJoe Casabona Website | LinkedInJoe's 10-point checklist for coding with AI Connect with UsListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com