Vibe Coding and Feature Flags: The New PM Playbook for Faster Product Validation

The traditional product management process is evolving as AI-assisted development tools enable product managers (PMs) to create working prototypes quickly, allowing real-time customer feedback before committing engineering resources. This approach, known as vibe coding, involves using AI to generate functional code based on natural language descriptions, thus transforming the PM's role by accelerating the testing of ideas. Feature flags play a crucial role in this new workflow by allowing PMs to safely test prototypes with specific customer cohorts without affecting the broader user base. This shift reduces engineering time spent on speculative features and enhances collaboration, as engineers can focus on developing validated ideas. The approach aligns product offerings more closely with customer needs by allowing rapid experimentation and iteration, significantly shortening validation cycles and improving decision-making in product development.