Podcast Episode Show Notes: "Vibe Coding a Perplexity Research Tool for n8n"

Episode Overview

What happens when an engineering executive who just wrote about the dangers of vibe coding immediately embarks on his own vibe coding project? This episode explores how traditional project management discipline can solve the "comprehension paradox" that makes experienced engineers uncomfortable with AI-generated code they can't evaluate.

Topics We'll Explore

The Irony of Immediate Practice Publishing a critique of vibe coding on Monday, then starting a vibe coding project on Friday. Why the psychological discomfort of building without understanding implementation details, and whether strategic oversight can substitute for technical comprehension.

Engineering Discipline Meets AI Collaboration How a three-document framework (PRD, TDD, Project Checklist) transforms AI collaboration from "vibes-based development" into methodical project management. The critical importance of telling your AI not to start coding until you're ready, and why "measure twice, cut once" applies to AI projects.

Building Tools for AI Agents, Not Humans The architectural difference between n8n nodes designed for human workflows versus tool nodes consumed by autonomous AI agents. Why existing Perplexity integrations don't serve agentic workflows, and what it means to design interfaces for AI decision-making rather than human usability.

The Solo Engineering Leader Experiment Moving from directing teams of engineers to collaborating one-on-one with AI. The shift from having staff to implement your vision to working with artificial intelligence that can code but needs strategic guidance. What changes when your "engineering team" is Claude?

Strategic Understanding vs. Implementation Knowledge Exploring the difference between knowing what to build and knowing how to build it. How evaluation criteria shift from "is this technically optimal?" to "does this advance our strategic objectives?" The psychology of maintaining accountability for outcomes you can't directly evaluate.

Human-AI Collaboration Patterns What humans excel at, what AI excels at, and how to structure productive partnerships. The importance of preventing AI embellishment through human-in-the-loop discipline. Why preparation matters—pre-loading AI with comprehensive reference materials and domain expertise.

The Future of Technical Leadership Whether this represents sustainable professional practice or elaborate self-deception. How engineering roles might evolve as AI capabilities expand into design, architecture, and implementation. The broader implications for organizations building hybrid human-AI teams.

Key Questions We'll Tackle

• Can strategic planning substitute for implementation expertise?
• What forms of technical knowledge remain valuable when AI handles coding?
• How do you evaluate the quality of work you can't directly assess?
• What's the difference between surrendering control and operating at higher abstraction levels?
• Is this the future of engineering leadership or a temporary transitional approach?

Why This Matters Now

As AI coding capabilities advance rapidly, engineering leaders face fundamental questions about their role and value. This episode provides a real-world case study in applying traditional engineering discipline to AI collaboration, offering insights for anyone navigating the evolving relationship between human expertise and artificial intelligence in technical work.

The project itself—building a research tool that enables AI agents to conduct autonomous, citation-rich research—represents the kind of infrastructure needed for the next generation of AI applications. But the methodology for building it may be equally important for understanding how technical leadership evolves in an AI-augmented world.