The short answer
AI app builders such as Lovable, Base44 and Bolt get you a working prototype fast, but prototypes usually need engineering work before real customers rely on them: secure sign-in and data access rules, reliable payments, error handling, tests and hosting you control. I review the code, give you a written list of what to fix with a fixed price, then harden, finish or rebuild the parts that need it.
What AI-built prototypes commonly get wrong
- Data access rules that let one user see or change another user's data
- Secret keys exposed in the browser
- Payments that break on failed cards, refunds or subscription changes
- No automated tests, so every change risks breaking something else
- Slow pages once real data and real users arrive
- Hosting, database and code tied to the builder's platform instead of accounts you own
- Code that grew one prompt at a time and is hard to change safely
How a rescue works
- Review: I read the code and test the app for security, data and reliability problems
- Written findings: a plain-English list of what to fix, in priority order, with a fixed price
- Fix, finish or rebuild: the work you approve, delivered in short cycles
- Move to your own accounts: code in your GitHub, hosting and data in your name
- Launch and care: training, monitoring and an optional care plan
Fix, finish or rebuild?
Sound structure, missing features
- Usually best
- Finish it
Good screens and flows, but security or data problems
- Usually best
- Fix and harden it
Tangled code where every change breaks something
- Usually best
- Rebuild the core, keep the designs
| What the review finds | Usually best |
|---|---|
| Sound structure, missing features | Finish it |
| Good screens and flows, but security or data problems | Fix and harden it |
| Tangled code where every change breaks something | Rebuild the core, keep the designs |
Why engineers still review AI-written code
Developers themselves are cautious: in Stack Overflow's 2025 survey, 46% said they distrust the accuracy of AI tools' output, compared with 33% who trust it. Google's DORA research finds AI speeds up teams with strong testing and review, and magnifies problems in teams without them. AI-generated code can be a great starting point. It just needs the same review and testing as any other code before customers depend on it.
What it costs
Rescue work is scoped like any custom project, starting from $2,500. The fixed price comes after the code review, so you know exactly what you're paying for before any fixes begin.
When to keep using the AI builder
- The prototype is only for testing an idea with a handful of friendly users
- You want to keep building and changing it yourself, day to day
Questions
Can you work with the code my AI builder generated?
If your builder lets you export the code, I work with it directly, since it's usually standard web technology. If it doesn't, I rebuild on a standard stack, reusing your designs and flows.
Will I have to start over?
Not usually. Many prototypes need fixes and hardening rather than a rebuild. The review tells you which parts are worth keeping before you spend anything on changes.
How long does it take?
Focused fixes often take one to three weeks. Finishing a product or rebuilding its core is scoped like any custom project, with the timeline in your written scope.