Vibe coding is having its moment

AI-powered platforms are turning natural language prompts into working applications in minutes, no code, no sprints, just describe what you want and watch it come to life. It is lightning fast, magical, and seemingly empowering. Business users are finally able to build solutions without waiting on IT, and the promise of democratized software development feels within reach. But there's a problem with speed-only vibe coding.

In our recent webinar, Chris Obdam walked through what happens after the demo ends. While vibe coding delivers incredible speed, most tools generate raw code that quickly becomes a maintenance nightmare. Every new prompt risks overwriting previous work. Security vulnerabilities slip through unchecked. Applications get deployed outside IT oversight, creating shadow IT proliferation. And for enterprises, the lack of audit trails and compliance documentation is a non-starter.

We're at a crossroads

We're at a crossroads. Organizations can continue down the path of ungoverned chaos; accumulating mountains of AI spaghetti code that clogs IT backlogs, or they can choose structured adoption that preserves speed while adding the guardrails that enterprises actually need. This is where Betty Blocks comes in.

Chris introduced Betty Genius, our approach to vibe coding that's built specifically for enterprise organizations. Instead of generating raw code directly, Betty Genius captures your intent as structured metadata, a blueprint that generates code on demand, consistently, with built-in guardrails. When you need to make changes, you're updating the blueprint, not wrestling with fragile code that might break.

The three pillars

The Betty Genius vibe coding platform is built on three pillars: AI UI Generation for rapid prototyping, AI BPM Builder for defining business logic using industry standards, and Open Standard Components that let you assemble and customize within a governed environment. Throughout the workflow, from initial prompt to final deployment, security, compliance, and governance stay embedded.

IT maintains oversight through role-based permissions and approval workflows, while business users get the speed and enablement they're looking for. Chris also demonstrated how Betty Blocks solves the challenge that's plagued citizen development for years. Traditional low-code platforms had too high a barrier to entry, requiring training and technical knowledge. Vibe coding removed that barrier but introduced new risks. Betty Blocks bridges the gap: you get the speed of vibe coding with the control IT needs to scale citizen development safely across the organization.

The session wrapped with a live demo showing how teams can move from idea to production-ready application, fast, safe, and at enterprise scale. For organizations tired of choosing between speed and control, the message was clear: you don't have to compromise anymore.

The session wrapped with a live demo of Betty Genius; and we received numerous insightful questions during the session. Below are the key questions and answers:

Key questions and answers from the webinar

Can I try Betty Blocks and Betty Genius for free to build a proof of concept?

Absolutely! You can sign up online and start building right away. If you need assistance, our support team is available via the chat function in the platform, they're always ready to help you get started.

How do I generate an app if I already have a Betty Blocks login?

Simply create a new app and look for the Betty Genius icon in the left menu bar. You can use it in existing apps or create a new one from scratch. If you need guidance, our support team in the chat is happy to walk you through it.

Can Betty Genius create pages from Figma screens or screenshots?

Yes! Upload a screenshot of any page—whether it's from Figma or elsewhere—and Betty Genius will recreate it. While it won't be pixel-perfect, it will get pretty close to your original design.

Can I edit the design directly instead of just using prompts?

Definitely. You can click on any component and use the left panel to modify it directly - change styling, edit text, or connect it to your data model. Betty Genius gives you both AI-assisted and manual control.

Will Betty Genius use standard components or create custom ones?

Betty Genius builds custom components tailored to your specific application, but they're based on standard HTML React components. This approach ensures your components are both unique to your needs and easily maintainable without external dependencies.

How does Betty Blocks handle REST API calls to other systems like ERPs?

Betty Blocks supports "remote models" - you create a model in Betty Blocks that represents an entity in a different system. This works with REST APIs, and if you have an OpenAPI or Swagger setup, it takes just minutes to configure. For bulk operations (like editing 10,000+ records), Betty Blocks can handle looping through records efficiently, though API performance on the external system may be a consideration.

Does Betty Genius extend the data model with relationships and actions?

Currently, Betty Genius handles the complete data model in a working application. The actions functionality is a work in progress and will be available soon. Stay tuned for updates!

Can I use Betty Genius in existing applications or only new ones?

You can use Betty Genius in existing applications with some small considerations - you'll need to create new pages rather than modifying existing ones with AI. However, you can integrate AI-generated components into your existing app structure.

Can I add custom code-based React components to a Betty Genius project?

Absolutely. Whether you're building manually or with AI, you can always add custom code to either the backend or frontend. Videos demonstrating this are available online.

How can developers access and extend custom component code?

There's a download button in the platform that lets you export your React app and backend app to run locally. For individual components, you'll upload the component, use it in your application, and then download and modify it as needed.

How does Betty Blocks ensure security, compliance, and governance?

Security is built in by default - applications aren't public unless you explicitly make them so, which requires going through a consent cycle. Betty Blocks uses sandboxing and role-based access systems, giving you control over deployment and application running. This centralized approach reduces risk compared to platforms with single application orientation.

What advice do you have for business users facing resistance from IT leadership?

While some users go rogue and build independently, we recommend being transparent with IT. If you do build independently, Betty Blocks gives you a strong governance story to present. We also have materials specifically designed to help explain governance and security to IT departments - just reach out, and we'll provide resources to support your conversation.