15 min
The Hard Lesson of Lovable Projects
I learned this the hard way.
Client brings a half-built Lovable project? I charge x3.
Why? Because once the mock data is tangled with components, it’s game over.
My rule now:
📁 All mock data goes in a clean /data dir — structured like real DB queries.
🚫 Never mixed with components.
🔁 When backend’s ready, you just swap mocks → real queries. No drama.
Also:
📜 Add a rules.md in your repo.
Lovable might ignore context, but it won’t ignore a dev who documents and enforces structure. Reference it every time you touch anything.
Because here’s what happens otherwise:
You connect Supabase late, nothing gets refactored, context explodes, and your app becomes 300 prompts of slop.
Broken layouts. Broken logic. Broken sleep.
Hire a dev who understands this early — or rebuild late.
The Hard Lesson of Lovable Projects
I learned this the hard way:
If a client brings me a half-finished project built in Lovable, I immediately triple my rate.
Why? Because untangling a mess is always more expensive than starting clean.
My default move now?
Treat Lovable like Figma: use it as a visual reference, then rebuild the project from scratch.
My Golden Rule for Frontend Projects
In every project, I enforce one non-negotiable rule:
Mock data never lives inside component files. Ever.
Instead, I create a clean /data directory that mirrors the real API shape.
This way:
- Frontend components pull from structured mock data.
- When it's time to connect the backend (e.g., Supabase), the transition is seamless.
- You delete the mock files, keep the same query structure, and everything just works.
Document Your Rules, or Watch Chaos Reign
Lovable’s knowledge base gets flaky as your project grows.
So I create a rules.md file in the repo and treat it like gospel.
Any time I’m about to touch something structural, I reference that file. Cursor makes this even easier.
This rule file:
- Forces consistency.
- Communicates intentions clearly.
- Saves you from breaking your own architecture later.
Supabase + Lovable = 💥 (If You're Not Careful)
Here’s what no one tells you:
When you connect Supabase late, Lovable won’t refactor anything.
The context window explodes. Files get bloated. And suddenly, you’re 300 prompts deep in a swamp of broken logic.
What breaks?
- Unexpected layout shifts
- Data leakage across components
- State bugs from leftover mock logic
All of it because no one set clear structure from day one.
The Fix Is Simple
You don’t need magic. You need discipline.
- Start with a clean, centralized data layer.
- Keep components focused.
- Document project structure early.
- Use Lovable as a design file, not the source of truth.
A few tweaks up front will save you weeks of debugging later.