You built something with AI that actually works. A real app with login, data, maybe even payments. You showed it to people and the reactions were good. Now you're staring at the gap between "working demo" and "thing I can put in front of paying customers," and you're not sure how to cross it.
That's what this service is for. We take the app the AI built and make it production-grade. Security, architecture, tests, deployment. Everything it takes to go from prototype to product.
What's actually wrong with it
Your app probably has the same problems as every other vibe-coded app, because AI tools all make the same mistakes. API keys hardcoded in frontend JavaScript where any visitor can see them. Backend endpoints that respond to anyone without checking who's asking. No input validation, no error handling, no tests. Business logic scattered across files with no clear structure.
None of this means you did anything wrong. This is just what AI-generated code looks like before an engineer goes through it. The tools optimize for getting something working fast, not for making it safe or maintainable. That last part is our job.
How the process works
We don't throw your code away. We audit what you have, figure out what's dangerous or fragile, and fix it in a specific order.
Week 1: Security audit and critical fixes
We go through every file, every endpoint, every dependency. We find the exposed credentials, the missing authentication, the unvalidated inputs, and the insecure storage. Then we fix the critical stuff immediately: credentials moved to environment variables, authentication added to every protected route, input validation to prevent SQL injection and XSS.
By the end of week one, your app is safe enough to put in front of real users with real data.
Week 2: Architecture cleanup
This is where the spaghetti gets untangled. Business logic that ended up in UI components moves to where it belongs. Database calls scattered across a dozen files get consolidated. The file structure gets reorganized into patterns that make sense, so the next time you need to change something, you can do it without breaking three unrelated features.
We're not chasing perfection here. We're making a codebase that doesn't fight you every time you try to build on it.
Weeks 3-4: Tests, documentation, deployment
We write automated tests for the paths that actually matter: authentication, payment processing, and data operations that can't afford to fail silently. Not 100% coverage. Just enough that you can deploy with confidence instead of crossing your fingers.
We set up deployment configuration so your app runs somewhere other than your laptop. Docker, CI/CD, environment management, the works. And we write a practical README that covers setup, deployment, and where to look when something goes wrong. Not a 50-page document nobody reads. Just enough that the next person can get productive fast.
What it costs
These are published rates from companies that offer cleanup as a named service. We're sharing them so you know what the industry charges before you talk to anyone, including us.
| Scope | Timeline | Industry Range |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency fix (critical issues, basic security patches) | 1-2 weeks | $5,000 - $10,000 |
| Complete cleanup (refactoring, testing, CI/CD) | 3-6 weeks | $15,000 - $30,000 |
| Enterprise grade (architecture redesign, advanced security) | 2-3 months | $35,000 - $60,000 |
Source: 42 Coffee Cups published packages. US senior engineer hourly rates for this work: $100-$200+/hr per Clutch.
We scope after looking at your repo, not before. Reach out and we'll give you an honest estimate based on what's actually in your codebase.
Why we're good at this
We build with Cursor, Claude Code, and GitHub Copilot every day. We're not anti-AI purists who think everything should be written by hand. We like these tools. We just understand the difference between what they produce and what production software requires, and we know how to close that gap quickly.
That matters for this specific type of work. When an engineer has never used the tool that generated your code, they spend time being confused by patterns that are completely predictable if you know the tool. We work with these tools daily and recognize the patterns each one produces. Less time being surprised means more time actually fixing things.
Signs your app needs a cleanup
You can see security gaps. API keys or database credentials visible in your frontend code. Backend endpoints that respond without checking who's calling. If you're not sure, this article walks through how to check.
There are zero automated tests. Every time you ship a change, you're hoping nothing broke. Every deployment is a coin flip.
Adding features has become painful. Every change breaks something else. The code is so tangled that a simple update takes days instead of hours. Here's why that happens with vibe-coded apps.
Nobody else can work on it. You're the only person who understands the codebase because there's no documentation and the structure doesn't follow any recognizable pattern. You can't hire help until it's cleaned up.
You're about to launch or raise funding. Investors will ask about your tech stack. Customers will expect the app to work reliably. Compliance may require a security review. The time to clean up is before those conversations happen, not during them.
You might be a good fit if...
- You built an app with AI tools and it works, but you know it's not ready for real users
- Investors, clients, or compliance need a security audit and your code won't pass
- You want to hire developers but the codebase is too messy for anyone else to work on
- You vibe-coded an MVP, validated the idea, and now need to scale it
- You already launched and things are breaking in production
AI tools we work with: Cursor, Bolt, Lovable, Replit, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Windsurf
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to rebuild from scratch?
Almost never. Industry data shows cleanup typically costs 20-40% of what a full rebuild would, which means the majority of your existing code can be kept and built on. Full rebuilds only come up when the AI picked a fundamentally wrong framework for the job. Read more about what the cleanup process involves.
How long does it take?
Two to four weeks for most projects. If you only need the security layer fixed, that can be done in under a week. Larger or more complex applications can take six to eight weeks.
Will you judge me for my code?
No, and we mean that. The same patterns show up in every AI-generated codebase we look at. Hardcoded keys, missing auth, spaghetti architecture. It's the predictable output of tools that optimize for speed over safety, not a reflection of the person who built it. You made something that works. That's the hard part. We handle the rest.
What happens after the cleanup?
You get production-ready code with documentation, a deployment setup, and enough test coverage to ship with confidence. We offer ongoing support if you want it, but there's no lock-in. The code is yours and it's written so any competent developer can pick it up and keep building.
What makes you different from other cleanup services?
We've been building production software since 1987 and we use AI tools ourselves every day, so we're not guessing at what these tools produce. We give you real pricing context upfront instead of hiding behind "contact us for a quote." And we're based in Mankato, Minnesota with a real office and a real phone number: (507) 388-4748.
Send us the repo. We'll look at your code and tell you exactly what needs to happen, with a prioritized list and an honest estimate. No pitch, no pressure. Reach out here or call (507) 388-4748.