Performance for Vibe Coded Apps
Fix the slow parts before users notice
Quick answer
Vibe coded apps often have performance issues because AI generates working code first, optimized code second. The most common problems are: unoptimized images (fix with Next.js Image component), unnecessary re-renders (fix with React.memo), slow database queries without indexes, and large JavaScript bundles (fix with dynamic imports). Run Google PageSpeed Insights or Vercel Speed Insights to identify which issue affects your app.
Q: Why is my vibe coded app slow?
A: Most common causes: unoptimized images, missing database indexes, large JS bundles, or too many API calls on page load. Run PageSpeed Insights to identify your bottleneck.
What's in This Guide
Core Web Vitals
LCP, INP, and CLS — what Google measures
Image Optimization
WebP format, lazy loading, and next/image
Database Optimization
Indexes, query optimization, and caching
Bundle Size Reduction
Dynamic imports and tree shaking
Edge Deployment
Run code closer to users for lower latency
Common Issues & Fixes
Recommended Tools
Services we recommend for this stack
Some links are affiliate links. We only recommend tools we genuinely use and trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Three metrics Google uses to measure page experience: LCP (loading speed, target < 2.5s), INP (interactivity, target < 200ms), and CLS (visual stability, target < 0.1).
AI tools often use unoptimized PNG/JPEG images without width/height attributes. Convert to WebP, add dimensions, and use lazy loading for images below the fold.
Not obsessively, but fix obvious issues. If your app takes 5+ seconds to load, users will leave before seeing your product. Basic optimization (images, lazy loading) takes 30 minutes.