Scaffold

Scaffolding is the process of generating a starting structure for a project or feature. Instead of creating every file, folder, and configuration from scratch, a scaffold gives you a working skeleton that you build on top of.

Examples: "npx create-next-app" scaffolds a Next.js project. Asking an AI "set up a new API route for user profiles with CRUD operations" scaffolds the route files, type definitions, and database queries. Scaffolding trades customization for speed: the generated code works immediately, and you modify it to fit your needs.

In vibe coding, scaffolding is one of the highest-value uses of AI. Describing the structure you want and getting functional boilerplate saves the most tedious part of development. The AI handles the wiring; you focus on the business logic that makes your app unique.