Bolt
Where the building started. Clean Git integration, no proprietary hooks, solid on-ramp to real development.
What I use it for
Where it shines
- Git commits are clean. No proprietary code embedded. The codebase is yours.
- Gets a strong UI and functional codebase fast. Then you hand off to deeper tools.
Where it struggles
- Same limitation as all vibe coding tools — breaks down as project complexity grows.
- You'll outgrow it. That's by design. The question is how clean the handoff is. Answer: very.
Notes
Bolt.new started me on the building path. First heard about it, built a prototype — lightbulb moment. The pattern: use Bolt to get a strong UI and functional codebase quickly, then build on top with Cursor, Claude Code, or Devin. Graduated past it, but it's an excellent on-ramp. Cleaner than Replit, more focused than Lovable.
How to try it
Go to bolt.new, describe an app, and build a prototype. Then commit to Git and open it in Cursor or VS Code. See how clean the code is.
Tags
Related tools
Replit
Vibe coding pioneer. Powerful for beginners, but the proprietary hooks become a wall as you grow.
Cursor
The AI-native IDE that got me into coding — still daily, but increasingly as infrastructure rather than agent.
Claude
Where I build and do — debugging code, writing fiction, designing practice plans, running deep research with specific data.