🧰 Flight sim review, lightly polished and cleared through the Department of Opinions
Vibe Coding: A Cautionary Tale
2026-04-28
A deep dive into the pitfalls of 'vibe' coding in flight simulation projects.
Vibe Coding: A Cautionary Tale
Let's take a moment to discuss the recent surge of "vibe" code projects that are popping up on flight sim download boards, often showcased by gamers streaming from their mom's basements.
Diving Down the Rabbit Hole
I'm a bit behind the times and recently discovered just how extensive these AI-coded projects have become. Initially, I stumbled upon what appeared to be passion projects from genuine programmers; they looked polished and shiny, filled with great ideas. However, a closer inspection revealed a different story.
Flight Trackers Gone Wrong
Take, for instance, some flight trackers that only monitor whether your plane is in the air and log your time aloft. One particular vibe project had users flying airliner routes until their employment ended, only to repeat the cycle. This developer allowed console players to simply declare they completed a route to earn credit. Predictably, things went south when players began inflating their flight logs. The developer reacted poorly, turning on manual entry players. Spoiler alert: that one won’t last long.
The Promise That Wasn't
Another project I was genuinely excited about turned out to be a disappointment. A few developers seemed to have great potential, but they bristled at any suggestion of AI coding. Each update they released seemed to introduce new bugs, often affecting fixes they had previously made. Those familiar with AI coding know it can revert to what it thinks is best. If modifications are made to the codebase without informing the AI, chaos ensues. And let's not forget: if you're vibe coding in Python, your code is incredibly easy to decompile. With 100 megs of assorted Python modules cluttering the install directory, it's clear you're not fooling anyone.
The Path Forward
Now, if you can craft solid AI prompts and have a genuine plan before you start—one that considers stability and real-world factors like location, speed, weight, passenger and cargo loads, parking position, and more—then maybe you’ll produce something worth a dollar after a year or two of testing. So, let’s hold off on lining our Patreon wallets just yet. Keep working hard, conduct thorough alpha tests, and then limited beta tests. And for goodness' sake, include simmers who have been around longer than a week.