Vibe Coding

Definition

is a conversational, AI-first approach to software development. Instead of writing every line of code manually, developers describe their intent in natural language often through prompts and let a large language model (LLM) generate the underlying code. The goal is to stay in flow and iterate quickly, focusing more on outcomes than syntax.

How does vibe coding work?

You start by describing what you want to build. The AI writes the code for you. If something doesn’t look right or throws an error, you just tell it to fix it. Sometimes you don’t even read the code. You just keep prompting and testing until it works. It’s less about writing everything yourself and more about guiding the AI through trial and error.

Why is it called vibe coding?

The name came from a tweet by Andrej Karpathy. He joked that he no longer writes code line by line but just talks to the AI, accepts everything it gives him, and keeps going. It’s called “vibe coding” because you’re kind of feeling your way through the process, not following a strict plan. You go with the flow.

What’s an example of vibe coding?

Imagine you want to create a dashboard that shows weekly sales. Instead of opening your IDE and writing it out, you just say something like “build a dashboard that shows weekly sales totals and trends.” The AI puts something together. You run it, see what’s missing, then ask it to add filters or fix the layout. You repeat that until it looks good enough.

Is vibe coding a real skill?

Yes. The skill isn’t in typing fast or memorizing syntax—it’s knowing how to explain what you want and how to guide the AI when things go sideways. You still need judgment and an eye for quality, especially when the AI gives you something that works but isn’t great. It’s a different kind of muscle to build, but it’s real.

Is this just for beginners?

Not at all. Some of the most experienced developers use vibe coding, especially when working on quick demos or internal tools. It’s useful when you don’t need perfect code, just working results. That said, you still need to know when to step in and take control if the AI starts heading in the wrong direction.

What are the downsides?

It can be easy to get lazy and accept whatever the AI gives you, even if it’s messy or inefficient. Over time, that can lead to bloated apps or weird bugs that are hard to trace. It also makes it harder to really understand how things work under the hood. So while vibe coding is great for speed, it’s best used with a little caution—especially for anything going into production.

Can non-developers use vibe coding?

Yes, and that’s part of what makes it exciting. Designers, product managers, and others who don’t usually write code can now build basic app functionality with just a few prompts. It lowers the barrier to entry and opens up software development to a much wider group of people.