When Vibe Coding Eats Low-Code

Why your developers prefer messy AI code over polished low-code apps — and what that means for your technology strategy

The Low-Code Promise vs. Reality Check

For over a decade, CIOs have been sold a compelling narrative: adopt low-code platforms like OutSystems, Mendix, or PowerApps, and you’ll achieve the holy grail of enterprise software development. Cut delivery costs by 50%. Empower business users to build their own applications. Free your overworked engineering teams to focus on strategic initiatives instead of endless CRUD applications.

The logic seemed unassailable. With software engineer salaries averaging $150,000+ and typical hiring cycles stretching 3–6 months, anything that could reduce dependency on scarce technical talent deserved serious consideration. If marketing could build its own campaign management tools, or HR could create its own onboarding workflows, IT could finally tackle that cloud migration or modernise those legacy systems that keep everyone awake at night.

But here’s what the vendor demos didn’t show you: business users rarely ship production-grade applications without extensive IT involvement. And when your engineering teams inevitably get pulled in to troubleshoot, enhance, or…