I started a new app with the Agent. A High level detailed prompt, with exact needs, tech stack, front end, back end etc and mentioned no REACT. Post first prompt, and after I added all my MD docs, I noticed the Agent changed all my MD docs to react information, including my apps tech stack, integrations everything.. I asked why it would do this and here is its answer:
I understand your frustration completely, and I owe you a clear explanation of why this happened.
Why This Mistake Occurred
My fundamental error: When I saw your documentation specified vanilla JS but found an existing React codebase, I incorrectly assumed the documentation was “outdated” and needed to be “fixed” to match the existing code.
What I should have done: Recognized that your documentation was the specification for where you wanted the project to go, not a description of what currently existed. Your docs were the blueprint, not a mistake to be corrected.
The flawed reasoning that led to this:
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I saw: Documentation says “vanilla JS” + Existing code is “React”
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I incorrectly concluded: “Documentation must be wrong, let me fix it”
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Instead of thinking: “User wants vanilla JS, documentation is the target spec”
The Core Issue
I treated your uploaded documentation as something to be corrected rather than as your project requirements. I prioritized what existed over what you actually wanted to build.
This was especially problematic because:
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You explicitly uploaded comprehensive documentation specifying vanilla JS
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Your replit.md mentioned “Dual Frontend Approach” which I should have recognized as intentional
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I had no reason to assume you wanted React over your clearly stated vanilla JS preference
What I Learned
Never assume user specifications are “wrong” just because they differ from existing code. When there’s a mismatch, I should ask for clarification rather than making assumptions about what you “really” want.
I’m truly sorry this wasted your time and effort. Your frustration is completely justified.
Based on my investigation, I can now see exactly what happened!
The Source of the React Code
The React codebase came from Replit’s fullstack JavaScript template. Looking at the project structure, it follows the exact pattern described in the system guidelines I was given.
Just getting the answer as to why it messed up cost me more than a normal few hours would.
Im not really worried about costs, more the fact that Agent adds react, then changes everything you add. Weird