Keep, Fix or Reject
Decide what stays and ask for better.
Keep, Fix or Reject is a free Vibe Coding lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Vibe Coding learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
The Decision That Makes You a Builder
You've read the AI's code and spotted possible issues. Now comes the part that actually ships products: deciding what to do about it.
Every chunk of AI code lands in one of three buckets: Keep it, Fix it, or Reject it. Making that call quickly and confidently is the core review skill.
This lesson gives you a simple framework so you never just blindly hit 'Accept All' again.
The Three Buckets
Here's the whole framework in one view:
- Keep: it does what you asked, you understand it, no obvious risks. Accept it.
- Fix: it's close but has a bug, a missing case, or messy bits. Ask AI to adjust it.
- Reject: it's wrong-headed, overcomplicated, or doesn't match your goal. Throw it out and re-prompt.
Most code is 'Keep' or 'Fix'. Reject is rarer but powerful — don't be afraid to use it.
When to KEEP
Keep code when all three are true:
- It does what you asked when you run or trace it.
- You understand it enough to change it later.
- You don't see obvious bugs or risks from your bug scan.
The function below is clean, named well, and does exactly one clear thing. This is a confident Keep.
function formatPrice(amount) {
return '$' + amount.toFixed(2);
}
console.log(formatPrice(9.5)); // $9.50
console.log(formatPrice(12)); // $12.00When to FIX
Fix when the code is mostly right but has a specific flaw you can name. You're not starting over — you're steering.
This code works for normal input but crashes on an empty cart. That's a clear Fix: keep the structure, patch the gap.
function cartTotal(items) {
return items.reduce((sum, i) => sum + i.price, 0) / items.length;
// bug: average not total, and crashes on empty cart
}
console.log(cartTotal([{ price: 4 }, { price: 6 }])); // 5, not 10!How to Ask for a Fix
Good fixes come from specific requests. Don't say 'make it better' — name the exact problem so AI doesn't rewrite the whole thing or wander off.
Point at the precise issue, like this:
Fix two specific bugs in cartTotal, keep everything else the same:
1. It divides by length — I want the TOTAL, not the average.
2. It crashes on an empty cart — return 0 instead.
Show only the corrected function.When to REJECT
Reject and re-prompt when fixing would be more work than restarting. Red flags for rejection:
- It solves the wrong problem entirely.
- It's a tangled mess you can't follow.
- It uses invented libraries or fake functions.
- It quietly ignored a key requirement you stated.
Rejecting isn't failure — it's faster than patching something broken at its core. In Cursor or Claude Code, just don't accept the diff and re-prompt.
Rejecting Well: Re-Prompt with Lessons
When you reject, don't just say 'try again' — tell the AI what went wrong so the next attempt is better, not the same.
Fold your finding into a sharper prompt:
That version doesn't work for me. Problems:
- It sorted oldest-first; I need NEWEST first.
- It imported a package that doesn't exist.
- It's way more complex than this needs to be.
Start over: simplest possible solution, newest-first, only built-in JavaScript, and explain your approach in one sentence first.Small Chunks Make Decisions Easy
The secret to fast Keep/Fix/Reject calls: review in small pieces.
If you let AI write 200 lines at once, your only options are 'accept the whole mess' or 'reject everything.' But if you build one function at a time, each decision is tiny and clear.
Prompt in steps: 'First just the function to fetch data. Show me, I'll review, then we'll add the display.' Small chunks = confident reviews.
Trust Your Gut, Then Verify
If something feels off — too complex, too clever, doesn't quite match what you pictured — that instinct is worth listening to.
You don't have to prove it's broken to ask for better. A quick 'this feels overcomplicated, can you simplify?' costs nothing and often improves the code a lot.
You're the decision-maker. The AI proposes; you dispose. Comfortable saying 'no, again' is a superpower.
A Worked Example
Let's apply the framework to one real chunk. You asked AI for a function that returns the most recent post. It hands you this:
Trace it: it sorts by date but oldest-first, then grabs index 0 — so it returns the oldest post, the opposite of your goal. The structure is fine, the bug is specific and nameable.
Verdict: Fix. Keep the shape, just flip the sort. You'd reject only if it were tangled or solving the wrong task entirely.
function latestPost(posts) {
const sorted = posts.sort((a, b) => a.date - b.date); // oldest first!
return sorted[0]; // returns the OLDEST, not the latest
}
// Fix: sort newest-first (b.date - a.date), and guard empty listYour Keep / Fix / Reject Checklist
Run this for every chunk of AI code:
- Does it match my goal? If no → Fix or Reject.
- Do I understand it? If no → ask to explain, then Fix or Reject.
- Any bugs or risks? If yes → Fix.
- Is it a tangled mess or wrong-headed? If yes → Reject and re-prompt.
- All clear? → Keep, and move on.
This loop, on small chunks, is how reliable apps get built with AI.
Quick Check
AI generates a function that's mostly correct but crashes on an empty list and computes an average when you wanted a total. What's the right call?
Recap: Keep, Fix, or Reject
The decision framework you now own:
- Keep when it matches your goal, you understand it, and it's risk-free.
- Fix when it's close — name the exact bug and ask AI to patch just that.
- Reject when it's wrong-headed or tangled; re-prompt with what went wrong.
- Review small chunks so every decision stays easy and clear.
- Trust your gut — you're the decision-maker; the AI proposes, you dispose.
You've now learned to review, read, debug-spot, and decide on AI code. That's the discipline that makes vibe coding ship real, working products.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Keep, Fix or Reject” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Keep, Fix or Reject” is free to read here on the web, and the Vibe Coding course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Vibe Coding course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Keep, Fix or Reject”?
Decide what stays and ask for better. You practise Vibe Coding with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Vibe Coding?
No prior experience is required. Vibe Coding on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Keep, Fix or Reject” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Vibe Coding lesson?
Yes. Every Vibe Coding lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.