Vibe Coding Workflows
AI-Assisted Refactoring of Legacy Code
AI cuts the archaeology cost, not the architecture decisions.
Simone Vallée · October 22, 2026 · 9 min read
6 stories
AI cuts the archaeology cost, not the architecture decisions.
Agents multiply token costs faster than per-unit prices fall.
Senior engineers now lead AI output; junior work has moved to the tools.
Cursor's full editor control beats Copilot's reach for TypeScript refactors.
Research shows AI coding tools slow experienced developers down despite feeling faster.
AI-generated code introduces defects that survive maintenance and pile up over time.