For Solo Founders, Indie Hackers & Vibe Coders

Your App Is Built.
Is It Ready to Ship?

You've moved fast with AI tools. That's a superpower — but AI-generated code often hides security holes, fragile architecture, and silent bugs that only show up in production. Before you send your first real users in, get a senior engineer's honest verdict.

$700 flat fee · 2 business days · fixed scope
Book a Call with Ilya →
  • 20+ years engineering experience
  • Toptal Top 3% verified expert
  • NDA signed before any code access
  • Written report + plan + 40-min debrief call
Ilya Zykin

Years of code review and architecture work let me spot issues in AI‑generated code fast. My startup background keeps the focus on what actually moves the needle for your project.

— Ilya Zykin

What You Get

Code Quality Report

A no-fluff breakdown of what's solid and what's a liability.

  • Architecture and structural issues
  • Hidden bugs and brittle logic
  • Tech debt that will slow you down
  • Performance bottlenecks under load

Security Audit

Find the holes before attackers do.

  • OWASP Top 10 vulnerability check
  • Auth & authorization flaws
  • Exposed secrets, keys, and credentials
  • Third-party dependency risks

Improvement Roadmap

Prioritized, actionable — not a list of problems, but a plan.

  • Critical fixes ranked by risk
  • Quick wins vs. longer-term investments
  • Cost & effort estimates where relevant
  • Concrete next steps you can act on immediately

Go / No-Go Verdict

The honest answer to: "Can I ship this right now?"

  • Clear production-readiness assessment
  • Blockers that must be fixed before launch
  • What can ship now vs. what needs a sprint
  • Confidence level backed by evidence

Real Story

Case Study AI-powered email inbox analysis app

The Situation

A vibe-coded app landed on my desk — an AI tool for deep analysis of email inboxes. Fast to build, impressive demo, real users on the horizon. But with every new feature added, something else broke. The AI kept generating fixes that introduced new bugs. Development was getting slower and more expensive with each sprint.

What the Audit Found

The audit uncovered serious architectural problems at the core of the codebase. The structure made it nearly impossible for AI tools to reason about the system correctly — every new prompt landed in the wrong context, compounding errors rather than fixing them. The cost of continuing without a refactor would only grow.

The Outcome

The audit delivered a concrete improvement and refactoring plan. The client followed it over 3 weeks — and the project stabilized. Development velocity recovered, AI-generated code became reliable again, and the cost per feature dropped significantly. The product was back on track for launch.

  • Codebase stabilized in 3 weeks
  • Development costs reduced
  • AI tooling became reliable again
  • Project cleared for launch

Who This Is For

This audit is built for solo founders, indie builders, and vibe coders moving fast with AI coding tools — Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude, or similar — and approaching a real launch with real users. Primarily working with clients in the US, Canada, and Australia.

  • You've built a SaaS, internal tool, marketplace, or API-based product — mostly or partly with AI assistance
  • You're about to launch, or just launched, and you want to know what could blow up
  • You've never had a senior engineer actually review the codebase end-to-end
  • You can't afford a full security team but you take security seriously
  • You want an expert opinion, not just another automated scanner report

This is probably not for you if:

  • Your project is a simple landing page or no-code build
  • You already have a CTO or senior engineers on staff
  • You're pre-idea and haven't written code yet

What I Actually Audit

Architecture & Code Structure

  • Overall architecture soundness
  • Separation of concerns and modularity
  • Database schema and query efficiency
  • API design and consistency
  • Error handling and edge cases

Security

  • Authentication & session management
  • Authorization and access control
  • Injection vulnerabilities (SQL, XSS, etc.)
  • Sensitive data exposure and secrets
  • CSRF, CORS, and HTTP security headers

Dependencies & Supply Chain

  • Outdated packages with known CVEs
  • Unnecessary or abandoned libraries
  • License risks
  • Lock file integrity

Production Readiness

  • Environment configuration and secrets management
  • Logging, monitoring, and alerting gaps
  • Deployment setup and rollback capability
  • Scalability under initial traffic
  • Backup and data recovery basics

AI-Generated Code Patterns

  • Hallucinated APIs and deprecated calls
  • Copy-pasted inconsistencies between modules
  • Blind spots AI models commonly miss
  • Over-engineered or under-engineered patterns

Viability Check

  • Is the tech stack a good fit for the problem?
  • Hidden complexity that will spike maintenance costs
  • Rebuild vs. refactor decision points
  • Honest feasibility of your roadmap

Stack coverage: Ruby on Rails, Node.js, React, Next.js, Python / FastAPI / Django, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, REST & GraphQL APIs. If your stack isn't listed — ask. 20+ years means wide coverage.

The 2-Day Process

  1. Day 1

    Kick-off & Deep Audit

    Invoice sent, NDA signed, repo access granted. I'll ask a short set of async questions about your app — what it does, who uses it, what worries you most. Then I go straight into the full audit across all six areas.

    • NDA & invoice — 30 minutes your side
    • Kick-off questionnaire (async, ~10 minutes)
    • Full code review: architecture, security, dependencies, production readiness
  2. Day 2

    Report & Debrief

    Delivered by EOD

    You receive the written report — findings, prioritized roadmap, and the go/no-go verdict. Then we get on a 40-minute call to walk through everything, answer your questions, and make sure you leave with a clear plan of action.

    • Written report delivered (PDF + shareable doc)
    • Go / No-Go verdict with clear rationale
    • 40-minute debrief call — async summary if needed

How to Get Started

1

Send me a message

Text or call — describe your project in 2–3 sentences. What it does, what stack it's on, when you're planning to launch. No deck or docs required.

Text Me Now
2

Quick qualification call

A free 15-minute call to confirm the audit is a good fit for your project. I'll ask a few questions, you ask yours. If we're aligned — we proceed. No pressure, no sales pitch.

3

NDA, invoice & access

You sign a short NDA, I send an invoice. Once the payment clears and you share repo access, the 2-day clock starts. Payment via Stripe, bank transfer, or Wise.

4

Audit begins

I work through your codebase. You're free to get on with your day. On Day 2 you receive the full report and we schedule the debrief call.

Typical turnaround from first message to audit start: 24–48 hours.

Get Started Now →

Common Questions

What if my code is a mess? Will you judge me?

Not at all — messy code is exactly why this audit exists. AI-assisted development moves fast and often leaves rough edges. My job is to map what's there, tell you what matters, and give you a clear path forward. I've reviewed everything from award-winning codebases to production apps that somehow still work. No judgment, just findings.

Is my code and business information kept confidential?

Yes. We sign a mutual NDA before I see a single line of code. I won't share your codebase, business logic, or any proprietary information with anyone. The audit report belongs to you and you alone.

What if you don't know my tech stack?

With 20+ years across Ruby on Rails, Node.js, React, Next.js, Python, and a long list of databases and infrastructure tools, I cover most stacks solo builders use. If you're using something unusual, message me first — I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit. I won't take the job if I can't do it well.

What format is the final report?

A written document (Google Doc or Notion, your preference) with: an executive summary, findings by category with severity ratings, a prioritized action list, and the go/no-go verdict. After you receive it, we schedule a 40-minute video call where I walk you through everything and answer your questions. If a call doesn't work for you, I'll record a summary walkthrough video instead.

Can you fix the issues you find?

The audit itself is scoped to findings and recommendations only. But yes — if after the debrief you want me to fix specific issues or continue as a part-time technical advisor, we can discuss a follow-on engagement. Many clients do exactly this. There's no obligation.

What if my project isn't ready for users yet — is it too early?

Actually, earlier is often better. Getting an audit while you still have momentum to fix things costs less than discovering problems after users have data in your system. If you have a working codebase and you're 4–8 weeks from launch, this is the right time.

$700 · 2 business days · fixed scope

Ready to Know the Truth About Your App?

One audit. A clear verdict. The confidence to ship — or the roadmap to get there. No recurring fees, no vague retainer. Just the facts about your codebase.

Book the Audit — $700 → Ask a question first

NDA before code access · Written report + plan delivered on Day 2 · 40-min debrief included