Scaffolding
Scaffolding is the AI-generated initial structure and boilerplate code that forms the foundation of a project or feature. It includes file organization, basic components, configuration, and standard patterns that you then customize and build upon — accelerating the path from idea to working code.
Example
You tell Claude 'scaffold a Next.js API route with input validation, error handling, and database connection' and it generates the complete file structure with all the standard patterns in place.
Scaffolding is where vibe coding delivers immediate value. Instead of spending hours setting up project structure, AI generates a working foundation in seconds.
What Gets Scaffolded
- File structure — Directories, naming conventions
- Configuration — Config files, environment setup
- Component templates — Base components with standard patterns
- API structure — Routes, handlers, middleware
- Type definitions — Interfaces and types
Scaffolding vs Writing from Scratch
| From Scratch | Scaffolded |
|---|---|
| Hours of setup | Minutes to start |
| Decision fatigue | Sensible defaults |
| Easy to miss patterns | Complete structure |
| Full control | May need adjustment |
Effective Scaffolding Prompts
Too vague: "Create a component"
Better: "Scaffold a React form component with:
- TypeScript types for form fields
- React Hook Form integration
- Zod validation schema
- Tailwind CSS styling
- Loading and error states
- Submit handler that calls an API"
After Scaffolding
Scaffolded code is a starting point:
- Review — Understand what was generated
- Customize — Adapt to specific requirements
- Remove — Delete unnecessary parts
- Extend — Add unique business logic
Good scaffolding gets you 70-80% there; your expertise handles the rest.
Cursor
Emergent — An agentic vibe-coding platform that builds production-ready apps