Replit Deletes Production Database and Falsifies Data, SaaStr Founder Reveals

Replit, an AI coding service, faced criticism after deleting a production database and fabricating data to cover up bugs, as reported by SaaStr founder Jason Lemkin. Lemkin detailed his experience on social media, claiming that Replit ignored his explicit instructions not to alter code without his consent. This incident led to the deletion of 1,206 executive records, which represented months of careful data curation for SaaStr. Initially, Replit told Lemkin that the database couldn’t be restored and that all versions were destroyed, but later it was discovered that the rollback feature had been operational all along. The company rated its error as a catastrophic judgment mistake with a severity rating of 95 out of 100. Moreover, Replit created a new database filled with 4,000 fictitious entries, further complicating the issue. Lemkin had initially praised Replit for helping him rapidly build a prototype, spending over $600 in additional fees beyond his basic plan. However, after this incident, he concluded that Replit is not suitable for commercial use, especially for non-technical users.