What is Vibe Coding? Everything You Need To Know About Vibe Coding

Vibe coding is the new coding. Here’s why it has captured the attention of the web development community and everything you need to know about it.

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With vibe coding, instead of writing code yourself, you describe what you want in simple language, like saying, “Make a web page that shows the weather for a city.” The AI then generates code for you, simplifying app development for those without coding experience and allowing them to focus on customizing and refining the AI output. That is vibe coding for you. Let’s learn more about it.

What is Vibe Coding? Definition and Core Concept

Vibe Coding is an AI-dependent programming technique where users describe their software ideas in natural language prompts (NLPs) to large language models (LLMs) tuned for coding. The AI generates the code, shifting the user’s role from manual coding to guiding, testing, and refining the output. This approach, often described as “vibing” with AI, allows even amateur programmers to create software without extensive training. 

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For instance, a user might prompt, “Create a web page that displays the current weather for a city the user enters,” and the AI would generate the necessary HTML, CSS, and JavaScript snippets to make it all dance. This collaborative process is highlighted by Andrej Karpathy’s humorous note in an X post, stating, “It’s not really coding—I just see stuff, say stuff, run stuff, and copy-paste stuff, and it mostly works.”

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The concept builds on the idea that, as Karpathy claimed in 2023, “the hottest new programming language is English,” reducing the need to learn specific coding languages. However, it’s distinct from traditional AI-assisted coding, as Simon Willison notes. He emphasizes that true Vibe Coding involves accepting code without full understanding, unlike using LLMs as typing assistants (Simon Willison).
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Vibe Coding Historical Context and Adoption

The term “Vibe Coding” was coined by Andrej Karpathy, a co-founder of OpenAI and former AI leader at Tesla, in February 2025, as documented in an X post. It quickly gained traction, being listed in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary by March 2025 as a “slang & trending” noun (Merriam-Webster). By February 2025, it had become a Silicon Valley buzzword, with articles like one from Business Insider noting its rise. Its adoption is evidenced by statistics such as 25% of Y Combinator’s Winter 2025 batch startups having codebases that were 95% AI-generated, highlighting its impact on startup ecosystems (TechCrunch).
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Vibe Coding Mechanics: How It Works

Vibe Coding operates through an iterative process of prompting and refining. Users provide natural language instructions to AI, such as “I need a Python function that takes a list of names and returns them sorted alphabetically,” and the AI generates code like def sort_names(name_list): return sorted(name_list). The process involves:

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• Prompting: Describing the desired outcome in plain English.
• AI Generation: The AI produces code, handling syntax and structure.
• Review and Refinement: Users test the code, provide feedback (e.g., “make the design more colorful”), and iterate until satisfied.

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This is suitable for tasks ranging from simple functions to complex apps, like creating a React app for restaurant menu translation, though it may require tweaks for perfection. However, AI tools like ChatGPT don’t run or test code, requiring manual execution, which can be a limitation for non-technical users.
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Vibe Coding Benefits and Opportunities

Vibe Coding offers several advantages that are reshaping software development:

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• Lower Barrier to Entry: It enables non-developers to create software, addressing the 82% of businesses reporting a developer talent shortage (Replit Blog). For example, a Cambridge researcher noted satisfaction for total beginners building apps in an hour.
• Rapid Development: Tasks taking days or weeks can be done in hours, as seen in examples like a web app for a DIY drawing robot ready by morning via AI descriptions.
• Democratization of Coding: It allows for rapid prototyping, with organizations embracing citizen development seeing up to 5.8x faster application development times compared to traditional methods.
• Focus on Creativity: AI automates boilerplate code, letting users focus on high-level design and user experience.

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These benefits are particularly significant for innovation, enabling more people to bring ideas to life without technical barriers.
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Vibe Coding Drawbacks and Challenges

Despite its potential, Vibe Coding has notable limitations:

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• Error-Prone Outputs: AI-generated code may contain bugs, security vulnerabilities, or performance issues, as seen in examples like fabricated e-commerce reviews in Kevin Roose’s LunchBox Buddy app (New York Times). This makes it better suited for hobby projects than production codebases.
• Need for Human Oversight: Users must review and refine the code, requiring some understanding, which can be a barrier for complete novices. First attempts may be messy, needing tweaks, as noted in a React app example requiring adjustments.
• Debugging Challenges: AI tools don’t run or test code, requiring manual execution, which can be time-consuming for non-technical users.
• Risks for Critical Systems: The lack of deep understanding can lead to undetected issues, making it risky for essential applications, as highlighted by concerns over security exploits (Hacker News).

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These challenges underscore the need for human guidance and the current suitability for non-critical projects.
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Tools and Platforms Supporting Vibe Coding

Several platforms facilitate Vibe Coding, enhancing its accessibility:

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Vibe Coding Criticisms and Concerns

Critics highlight several issues with Vibe Coding:

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• Quality Concerns: Current vibe-coded apps are often “kinda bad,” with examples like hyper-blocky games not matching established titles like World of Tanks, though expected to improve rapidly (Andrew Chen). Triviality may not matter, similar to social media content filling niches due to quantity.
• Overreliance Risks: There’s a risk of users not understanding generated code, leading to maintenance and scalability issues.
• Security and Privacy: Concerns include undetected bugs and security exploits, making it risky for production codebases.
• AI Limitations: Ironic cases, like AI refusing code generation and telling users to “develop the logic yourself,” highlight current AI capabilities’ limits (Ars Technica).

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These criticisms underscore the need for careful application and human oversight, especially for critical systems.
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Parting Thoughts

Vibe Coding is a transformative approach to software development, offering unprecedented accessibility and speed. In 2025, it’s clear that while it has significant potential to democratize coding and foster innovation, it also faces challenges like error-prone outputs and suitability for non-critical projects. Its future looks bright, with predictions of youth-driven software cultures and adaptive applications, but addressing quality, security, and overreliance will be key. Whether you’re a developer or a dreamer with an app idea, Vibe Coding is worth exploring, offering a glimpse into a more inclusive tech future.

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