AI-generated code that needs fixing: what it costs and who to call
Updated September 13, 2026
It is the story of 2026: an entrepreneur tries Lovable, Bolt, v0 or Claude, has a product-looking prototype in a weekend — and at the third change everything breaks, the AI goes in circles and real customers cannot be let in. Not a failure: the prototype did its job, validating the idea. Now it needs handing over to someone who can actually read the code.
What the handover costs
Review and unblock
€500 – 2,000
A developer reads the generated code, fixes blocking bugs, closes the worst holes and tells you — in writing — what state the project is really in.
Completion
€2,000 – 6,000
Real database, secure login, payments, email: the parts generators leave half-done. The prototype becomes an app real customers can use.
Hardening for growth
€6,000 – 15,000
Refactoring fragile parts, tests, monitoring, proper production deployment. For those launching and evolving the product.
The initial review is the best-spent money: a few hundred euros to learn whether the prototype holds as a base (it almost always does) or a rewrite pays off — and to find the security holes before your customers do.
What to get checked immediately
- Data security: generated prototypes sometimes leave data readable by anyone with the address — verify BEFORE letting real users in.
- Exposed keys: paid-service keys shipped in browser-visible code are an expensive bill waiting to happen.
- Data persistence: what happens when two users edit together? Is there a backup?
- Dependencies: generators include libraries at random, some old or vulnerable.
Mistakes to avoid
First: grinding the AI on an unfixable bug — after the third prompt loop you are paying in time what a developer solves in an hour. Second: launching because "it works": prototype holes do not show in demos, they show with the first malicious user. Third: throwing it all away without a review — the prototype is almost always a recoverable base, and anyone proposing a full rewrite without reading the code is selling, not assessing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I describe it in a listing if I am not technical?
Three things: the prototype link, which tool generated it (Lovable, Bolt, v0…), and what does not work or is missing. On Araknet the listing is free and anonymous: the offers will bring diagnosis and price.
Will the developer laugh at my generated code?
No: in 2026 fixing AI code is a recognised specialty, and the prototype — however imperfect — states exactly what you want, better than ten pages of specs. Arriving with a prototype is an advantage, not an embarrassment.
Should I keep using AI after the fix?
Yes, and it is the best flow: you prototype ideas with AI, the developer integrates them into the product with judgement. Many freelancers work exactly like that now — AI included, but with accountability for what ships.
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