So, I have been using Google AI studio for a while now and I must say, its very good. I have been able to build my prototypes seamlessly. As an alumni of the Google Startup class, and having completed the "Prototype to Product" class, I’ve been pushing the boundaries of what these LLMs can generate.
However, as I moved from a simple one-page tool to a more complex application, I hit a strange wall: The Disappearing Feature.
The "Context" Paradox
You’d think with Gemini’s massive 2-million-token context window, the AI would remember every line of code you've written. But as my web app grew, I noticed something frustrating. I would ask the AI to add a new feature—say, a "Contact Us" section—and while it would build that section perfectly, it would suddenly "forget" or delete the complex logic I had built for my main tool in the previous step.
It’s like the AI is a brilliant architect with a very small desk; it’s so focused on the new blueprint that it knocks the old one onto the floor.
Why Is This Happening?
It’s not actually a "capacity" limit in terms of memory. It’s a conciseness bias. AI models are trained to give you the most efficient answer. When you ask for an update, the AI often:
Summarizes: It gives you the new part but replaces the old part with a comment like
// ... rest of code stays the same.Overwrites: It focuses on the new instructions so intensely that it "hallucinates" a simpler version of your existing features to save space in its output.
How I Fixed My Workflow (From Prototype to Product)
To graduate from a "messy prototype" to a "stable product," I had to change how I talked to AI Studio. If you’re building a multi-page app, here are the three rules I now live by:
Stop the Monolith: Don't keep your entire app in one file (like
App.jsx). Tell the AI to break your app into Components. If the "Legal Tool" is in its own file, the AI can't accidentally delete it while you’re working on the "Navbar."The "Full File" Mandate: I started adding this sentence to every prompt: "Do not use placeholders or comments like '//...rest of code.' Output the entire file so I can copy-paste it without breaking the app."
Use State Management: Instead of letting the AI decide how data flows, I instruct it to use a central "State." This ensures that adding a new page doesn't break how the existing pages talk to each other.
The Verdict
Google AI Studio is a powerhouse for rapid development, but as we move from Prototype to Product, we have to be the "Project Manager." We can't just ask the AI to "build more"; we have to tell it to "expand without replacing."
