Vibe Coding Pre-Launch Checklist (Audit Prompt)

Copy the full pre-launch checklist prompt into your vibe coding tool

Give this full pre launch checklist prompt to claude, chatgpt, or any other vibe coding tool you use:

• You are a senior full-stack engineer, security auditor, QA tester, and performance specialist.
  Your task is to audit my entire project and determine whether it is safe and ready for real users.
  **Important rules:**
  - Do not assume something works just because the code looks correct.
  - Inspect the actual code, configuration, dependencies, and database setup.
  - Run tests wherever possible.
  - Do not claim something passed unless you verified it.
  - Do not make major changes without explaining them first.
  - Do not delete data, modify production databases, or run destructive commands.
  - If you cannot verify something, mark it as "Needs manual testing."
  - Skip checks that do not apply to this project.
  - Prioritize issues that could cause data loss, security problems, financial loss, or broken user flows.
  
  ## **1. Security & Secrets**
  
  - No API keys, tokens, or passwords exposed in frontend code.
  - No secrets committed to Git history.
  - Environment variables are configured correctly.
  - Private backend endpoints require authentication.
  - Users cannot access other users' data by changing IDs in URLs or API requests (IDOR).
  - Database row-level security and access policies are correctly configured, where applicable.
  - Inputs are protected against SQL injection, XSS, and command injection.
  - File uploads validate type, size, and permissions.
  - Rate limits exist for sensitive and expensive endpoints.
  - CORS rules are appropriately restricted.
  - Debug endpoints and test accounts are disabled in production.
  
  ## **2. Authentication & User Accounts**
  
  - Sign-up, login, and logout work.
  - Password reset and email verification work, if supported.
  - Sessions expire and refresh correctly.
  - Protected pages cannot be accessed after logout.
  - Users cannot access admin features without permission.
  - OAuth callbacks and redirect URLs are correctly configured.
  - Authentication errors do not leak sensitive information.
  - Account deletion and data removal work as intended.
  - Authentication still works after refreshing the page or opening a new tab.
  
  ## **3. Database & Data Integrity**
  
  - Database migrations run cleanly.
  - Database constraints prevent invalid or duplicate records.
  - Foreign keys and relationships are correct.
  - Important operations use transactions where needed.
  - Failed requests do not leave partially saved records.
  - Multiple users editing data simultaneously cannot silently overwrite important changes.
  - Database queries use indexes where needed.
  - Pagination prevents huge data requests.
  - Backup and recovery procedures exist for important data.
  - Database connections and credentials work in production.
  
  ## **4. Payments & Subscriptions**
  
  Skip if the app doesn't handle payments.
  - Payment amounts are calculated and validated on the server.
  - Users cannot unlock paid features by editing frontend state.
  - Webhook signatures are verified.
  - Duplicate webhook events do not create duplicate orders or credits.
  - Failed payments are handled correctly.
  - Subscription upgrades and downgrades work.
  - Cancellation and expiration update access correctly.
  - Refund handling is consistent with the app's rules.
  - Test payment credentials are not used in production.
  - Checkout success pages do not count as proof of payment without server verification.
  
  ## **5. API & Third-Party Integrations**
  
  - External API failures do not crash the whole app.
  - Timeouts exist for external requests.
  - Retry logic does not create duplicate actions.
  - API rate limits and quotas are handled.
  - Expensive AI/API calls have usage limits.
  - API responses are validated before use.
  - Webhook events are verified and processed safely.
  - Missing or expired credentials produce useful errors.
  - Third-party services are not called unnecessarily on every page load.
  
  ## **6. UI & User Experience**
  
  - Every button performs the intended action.
  - All forms have validation and useful error messages.
  - Loading states appear during slow operations.
  - Empty states explain what users should do next.
  - Long text does not break layouts.
  - Mobile layouts work without horizontal overflow.
  - Navigation works with keyboard input.
  - Modals, dropdowns, and menus behave correctly.
  - Text contrast and interactive elements meet accessibility standards.
  - Double-clicking submit buttons does not create duplicate actions.
  - Users get a warning before losing important unsaved work.
  
  ## **7. Error Handling & Edge Cases**
  
  - Refreshing a page halfway through a workflow does not corrupt data.
  - Slow or disconnected internet is handled.
  - Expired sessions do not silently lose important user input.
  - Empty, malformed, and unusually large inputs are handled.
  - Upload failures do not create broken records.
  - Users see useful error messages rather than raw stack traces.
  - Missing pages show a proper 404.
  - Unexpected server errors are logged.
  - Background jobs can recover from failures.
  - Date, timezone, and currency calculations behave correctly.
  
  ## **8. Performance**
  
  - Images are compressed and appropriately sized.
  - Unnecessary JavaScript and dependencies are removed.
  - Heavy components are loaded only when needed.
  - Database queries do not produce unnecessary repeated requests.
  - API calls are not triggered in infinite loops.
  - Caching is configured without leaking private data.
  - Large lists use pagination or virtualization where appropriate.
  - Fonts do not cause excessive layout shifts.
  - Core Web Vitals are tested on important pages.
  - Performance is tested under realistic conditions.
  
  ## **9. SEO, Accessibility & Legal**
  
  - Important public pages have titles and meta descriptions.
  - Canonical tags are configured where necessary.
  - Sitemap and robots.txt are appropriate for the website.
  - Private pages are not accidentally exposed to search engines.
  - Images have useful alt text where needed.
  - Forms have accessible labels and error messages.
  - Privacy policy accurately reflects collected data.
  - Cookie consent is implemented where legally required.
  - Terms and refund policies exist where applicable.
  - Third-party assets and fonts have appropriate licenses.
  
  ## **10. Deployment & Production Readiness**
  
  - Production environment variables are complete.
  - Production build succeeds.
  - Required automated tests pass.
  - Database migrations are compatible with production data.
  - Staging and production configurations are separated.
  - Development-only features are disabled.
  - Logs do not expose passwords, tokens, or personal data.
  - Error monitoring is configured.
  - Health checks are available where appropriate.
  - A rollback plan exists if deployment fails.
  - All critical flows have been tested against the deployed version.
  
  ## **11. Real-World User Tests**
  
  Test these scenarios, using safe test accounts and data:
  - A brand-new user signs up and completes the main workflow.
  - An existing user returns after their session expires.
  - Two users try to access the same private resource.
  - A user submits the same form twice.
  - A user loses internet access during an important action.
  - A user enters invalid or unexpected data.
  - A user completes the main workflow on mobile.
  - A user abandons and returns to an unfinished workflow.
  - A third-party API fails during an operation.
  - A user tries to access something their role does not permit.
  
  # **Final Output Required**
  
  After auditing the project, give me:
  **1. Launch Readiness Score**
  Rate the project's launch readiness from 0–100. Explain the score using verified evidence. Clearly state what you could not test.
  **2. Critical Blockers**
  Issues that must be fixed before real users can use the app.
  **3. Important Fixes**
  Issues that should be addressed soon but do not necessarily block launch.
  **4. Minor Improvements**
  Polish, performance improvements, and lower-risk problems.
  **5. Detailed Checklist Results**
  For every applicable check, mark:
  - PASS — verified with evidence.
  - FAIL — verified issue found.
  - MANUAL TEST — cannot verify automatically.
  - NOT APPLICABLE — not relevant to this project.
  
  Include affected file names, code locations, evidence, and suggested fixes.
  **6. Fix Plan**
  Give me an ordered plan, starting with the highest-risk problems. Include exact changes needed and how each fix should be tested.
  **7. Final Verdict**
  Choose one:
  - READY TO SHIP
  - READY AFTER FIXES
  - NOT READY TO SHIP
  
  Do not mark the project as ready if critical security, payment, data-loss, or authentication risks remain unverified.
  **Start by inspecting the project structure and identifying the tech stack. Then perform the audit. Do not automatically implement fixes until I approve the plan.**

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