Common Issues general

I Can't Update My App After the AI Tool Made Changes

You were using an AI tool to build or update your app, and after a series of changes, something went wrong. Now you can't make any more updates — the app won't build, the AI keeps going in circles, or every new change breaks something else.

This is like being stuck in quicksand. The more you ask the AI to fix it, the deeper the mess gets. You might see error messages that don't make sense, or the AI says it fixed the problem but nothing actually changed.

At this point, the code has gotten so tangled that the AI can't untangle it on its own. You need a human developer to step in, clean up the mess, and get your app back to a working state.

Error Messages You Might See

Build failed Module not found Syntax error Cannot resolve dependency Type error Maximum call stack exceeded
Build failedModule not foundSyntax errorCannot resolve dependencyType errorMaximum call stack exceeded

Common Causes

  • AI made conflicting changes — Different prompts told the AI to do opposite things, creating code that contradicts itself
  • Dependencies got scrambled — The AI added, removed, or changed software libraries in a way that makes them incompatible with each other
  • Core files were accidentally overwritten — The AI replaced important configuration files with broken versions
  • Too many changes at once — Instead of small careful updates, the AI rewrote large sections and introduced multiple bugs simultaneously
  • Build errors piling up — One error led to a "fix" that created two more errors, and so on

How to Fix It

  1. Stop asking the AI to fix it — Seriously. If it's been going in circles for more than 3 attempts, the AI is making things worse
  2. Go back to the last working version — Check if your AI tool has version history or if your code is saved in GitHub with previous versions
  3. Screenshot every error message — Document exactly what's happening so a developer can diagnose the problem quickly
  4. Get a human developer to review the code — They can identify the root cause and fix it properly instead of guessing like the AI is doing
  5. Make a plan before more changes — Once it's fixed, make smaller, more careful updates and test after each one

Real developers can help you.

Yovel Cohen Yovel Cohen I got a lot of experience in building Long-horizon AI Agents in production, Backend apps that scale to millions of users and frontend knowledge as well. zipking zipking I am a technologist and product builder dedicated to creating high-impact solutions at the intersection of AI and specialized markets. Currently, I am focused on PropScan (EstateGuard), an AI-driven SaaS platform tailored for the Japanese real estate industry, and exploring the potential of Archify. As an INFJ-T, I approach development with a "systems-thinking" mindset—balancing technical precision with a deep understanding of user needs. I particularly enjoy the challenge of architecting Vertical AI SaaS and optimizing Small Language Models (SLMs) to solve specific, real-world business problems. Whether I'm in a CTO-level leadership role or hands-on with the code, I thrive on building tools that turn complex data into actionable value. Antriksh Narang Antriksh Narang 5 years+ Experienced Dev (Specially in Web Development), can help in python, javascript, react, next.js and full stack web dev technologies. Taufan Taufan I’m a product-focused engineer and tech leader who builds scalable systems and turns ideas into production-ready platforms. Over the past years, I’ve worked across startups and fast-moving teams, leading backend architecture, improving system reliability, and shipping products used by thousands of users. My strength is not just writing code — but connecting product vision, technical execution, and business impact. Sage Fulcher Sage Fulcher Hey I'm Sage! Im a Boston area software engineer who grew up in South Florida. Ive worked at a ton of cool places like a telehealth kidney care startup that took part in a billion dollar merger (Cricket health/Interwell health), a boutique design agency where I got to work on a ton of exciting startups including a photography education app, a collegiate Esports league and more (Philosophie), a data analytics as a service startup in Cambridge (MA) as well as at Phillips and MIT Lincoln Lab where I designed and developed novel network security visualizations and analytics. I've been writing code and furiously devoted to using computers to make people’s lives easier for about 17 years. My degree is in making computers make pretty lights and sounds. Outside of work I love hip hop, the Celtics, professional wrestling, magic the gathering, photography, drumming, and guitars (both making and playing them) Rudra Bhikadiya Rudra Bhikadiya I build and fix web apps across Next.js, Node.js, and DBs. Comfortable jumping into messy code, broken APIs, and mysterious bugs. If your project works in theory but not in reality, I help close that gap. Omar Faruk Omar Faruk As a Product Engineer at Klasio, I contributed to end-to-end product development, focusing on scalability, performance, and user experience. My work spanned building and refining core features, developing dynamic website templates, integrating secure and reliable payment gateways, and optimizing the overall system architecture. I played a key role in creating a scalable and maintainable platform to support educators and learners globally. I'm enthusiastic about embracing new challenges and making meaningful contributions. Mehdi Ben Haddou Mehdi Ben Haddou - Founder of Chessigma (1M+ users) & many small projects - ex Founding Engineer @Uplane (YC F25) - ex Software Engineer @Amazon and @Booking.com ISHANTDEEP SINGH ISHANTDEEP SINGH Senior Software Engineer with 7+ years of experience in React, JavaScript, TypeScript, Next.js, and Node.js. I’ve also worked as a tech lead for startups, owning end-to-end technical execution including architecture, development, scaling, and delivery. I bring a strong mix of hands-on coding, product thinking, and technical leadership, and I’m comfortable building products from scratch as well as improving and scaling existing systems. rayush33 rayush33 JavaScript (React.js, React Native, Node.js) Developer with demonstrated industry experience of 4+ years, actively looking for opportunities to hone my skills as well as help small-scale business owners with solutions to technical problems

Describe what's wrong in plain English. No technical knowledge needed.

Get Help

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the AI keep making things worse?

AI coding tools work best for building new things, not debugging tangled code. When code gets messy, the AI doesn't truly understand what's wrong — it makes educated guesses. After several wrong guesses, the code becomes too complex for the AI to sort out.

Can I go back to an earlier version of my app?

If your code is on GitHub or your AI tool has version history, yes. Look for a 'history' or 'versions' feature, or check your GitHub repository for previous commits. If there's no history, a developer may still be able to untangle the current code.

Related Common Issues Issues

Can't fix it yourself?
Real developers can help.

You don't need to be technical. Just describe what's wrong and a verified developer will handle the rest.

Get Help