You know that feeling when AI spits out code that almost works but not quite
It looks functional on the surface but something feels off like a sculpture that has the right shape but lacks soul
That is where Michelangelo Coding comes in the delicate art of chiseling away at AI generated code until it becomes something truly remarkable
I have been thinking about this a lot lately especially as I watch more people dive into vibe coding
The initial excitement of seeing AI generate working code is incredible but then reality sets in
The code might run but is it elegant is it maintainable does it follow good practices
This is where we need to shift our mindset from just accepting what AI gives us to actively shaping it
Think about Michelangelo and his famous quote about seeing the angel in the marble and carving until he set him free
That is exactly what we are doing with AI generated code
The raw material is there but we need to chip away the excess refine the details and bring out the true beauty
One of the key principles I follow comes from the Ten Principles of Vibe Coding specifically the idea that code is capability while intentions and interfaces are long term assets
This changes everything
Instead of treating the generated code as sacred we see it as temporary disposable even
Our real work lies in crafting better intentions clearer specifications and more robust interfaces
I have noticed something interesting though
Many developers including myself initially fall into the trap of manually editing the generated code
We see a small issue and our instinct is to jump in and fix it directly
But this goes against another important principle from the Ten Principles of Vibe Coding about avoiding manual code edits
Instead we should be refining our prompts and specifications
This is the real Michelangelo work
Every time we encounter imperfect code we have an opportunity to improve our instructions to the AI
It is like teaching someone to sculpt by giving better guidance rather than finishing their work for them
The results over time are astonishing
As our prompts become more precise our specifications more detailed the quality of generated code improves dramatically
We are not just getting better code we are becoming better architects
Another aspect I have been pondering is how this approach affects system design
When we focus on chiseling our intentions rather than the code itself something magical happens
Our systems become more coherent more aligned with our actual goals
We stop worrying about implementation details and start thinking about capabilities and outcomes
This aligns perfectly with the principle that professionals should focus on ecosystem governance and standards rather than individual code files
We are moving from software engineering to software ecosystem thinking
But here is the challenging part
This requires discipline and patience
It is tempting to just fix the code and move on
The real art lies in resisting that temptation and instead improving the system that generated the code
What if we treated every piece of imperfect AI generated code as feedback about our instructions
What if we saw ourselves not as code fixers but as intention sculptors
This shift in perspective could transform how we build software
We would spend less time debugging and more time clarifying
Less time refactoring and more time specifying
Less time maintaining and more time evolving
The tools are getting better every day but the real breakthrough will come from how we use them
Michelangelo did not create David by randomly hitting marble with a hammer
He had a vision he had skill and he had the patience to reveal what was hidden within
We have the same opportunity with AI generated code
The masterpiece is already there waiting to be uncovered
Our job is to wield the chisel with precision and purpose