What Is Vibe Coding? (original) (raw)

What is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding is a natural language-driven, AI-assisted way to build software. Instead of writing every line of code by hand, you describe what you want via natural language prompts to an agentic AI system—like _“create a dark mode toggle for a settings menu”_—and AI helps turn that into working code.

Vibe coding emphasizes:

• Describing ideas in plain language.
• Iterating quickly without breaking your flow.
• Shaping structure after the initial creative spark.

It’s well suited for early-stage projects and creative exploration, and helps make software development more accessible to people without a deep knowledge of programming language.

Vibe coding doesn’t replace development skills. Developer judgment, knowing how code works, and understanding the precepts of computer science are all important in shaping the outputs.

However, vibe coding is part of a broader shift in AI in software development that makes coding more accessible, expressive, and collaborative.

How it works

Start with a prompt. An AI tool like GitHub Copilot responds with a code suggestion based on your intent. This process reflects advances in AI code generation, where models interpret natural language and produce executable code.

Examples:

• Build a responsive HTML page for a music app with a call-to-action button.
• Plot the top five countries by population using pandas and matplotlib.
• Generate an SQL query that filters customer orders by date and total amount.

You review the output, adjust the logic, or add new instructions to shape the output into working code while you stay in the flow of your project. Often, you can develop a working prototype quickly with agentic systems that facilitate vibe coding. It’s a conversational workflow that allows you to refine as you go.

Implementing vibe coding

Vibe coding has a repeatable rhythm that makes it easy to dive into projects and keep moving. Once you’ve chosen a tool, the process is simple: describe what you want, see what the AI tool suggests, then shape the result until it fits. It’s a flexible way to build, ideal for moments when sketching in code feels faster than planning everything out. This approach works across many AI coding tools for beginner and expert coders.

1. Choose a tool that fits your flow

Look for one that works with your preferred stack and setup. Copilot integrates into popular editors like Visual Studio Code and JetBrains, offering natural language input and context-aware suggestions.

Example:

Building a data visualization app in Python? Copilot can suggest libraries, write sample plots, and explain what each block of code is doing.

2. Describe what you want to build

Use plain natural language prompts to explain your goal. You’ll get the best code when you craft quality prompts and provide good context.

Tips:

• Mention inputs, outputs, or constraints.
• Include visual or style preferences.
• Keep prompts short and focused.

Example:

Create a Flask app with one endpoint that checks if a number is prime. Include error handling.

3. Shape the output

Treat the response like a rough draft. Refine and adapt as you go, and prompt for tests to help validate the results.

You might:

• Break up long blocks into smaller functions.
• Rename variables for clarity.
• Ask the AI to clean up, simplify, or extend a section.
• Prompt for unit or edge case tests to catch issues early.

4. Check before you move on

Test the code and make sure it aligns with your original intent.

Good final steps:

• Run unit tests.
• Review dependencies.
• Clean things up with a linter or formatter.

Keep the rhythm going

When paired with effective code review, vibe coding makes it easier to explore, build, and ship without getting stuck in setup. It’s a rhythm you can return to anytime you’re ready to create.

Why vibe coding works

Vibe coding turns coding into a conversation, making it easier to explore and share, without overthinking the code. Here are some benefits you’ll notice right away:

Quick idea to working feature

Plain language prompts make it simple to sketch out concepts and build early versions fast.

Example:

A solo developer builds a functional crypto dashboard in under an hour—prompting for charts, API calls, and styling as they go.

Fewer barriers to entry

You don’t need to master syntax to start building. Designers, students, and self-taught developers can describe what they want and see it come to life.

Example:

A design student builds a portfolio site using prompts like center this div and make the background black.

More focus, less repetition

With AI handling boilerplate, developers can spend more time thinking through logic, architecture, and user needs.

Example:

A team uses Copilot to generate unit tests and form validation, freeing up time for product thinking.

Coding as conversation

Vibe coding makes iteration feel more natural. You describe, adjust, and improve—one prompt at a time.

Example:

A developer highlights a slow function and asks the AI to optimize it, then reviews the result before moving on.

Keep you in control

AI lends speed and flexibility, but you’re still the one shaping the outcome.

What are the limitations of vibe coding?

Vibe coding keeps momentum high, but like any flexible approach, it has its tradeoffs. Used without care, it can introduce issues that slow you down or make your project harder to manage.

Technical complexity

AI tools are great at common tasks but often miss the details in more advanced situations. They tend to assume everything will go smoothly and skip over threading, performance, or error handling.

Where things get tricky:

• Complex workflows
• Real-time systems or hardware integrations
• Logic that needs tuning or precision

Quality and consistency

Code that runs isn’t always ready for production. Without close attention, it might be clunky, repetitive, or hard to update.

Watch for:

• Redundant logic
• Inefficient solutions
• Disorganized structure or formatting

Debugging and clarity

It’s often unclear why an AI assistant makes certain decisions. That lack of visibility can slow you down—especially when you’re trying to understand, fix, or extend generated code.

Trouble spots:

• Vague variable names
• Missing documentation
• Logic that’s hard to follow

Long-term maintenance

Vibe coding is great for quick progress, but if you skip cleanup, things get messy. Inconsistent naming, scattered logic, or untracked dependencies can pile up fast. This becomes especially risky with an influx of code or micro apps built outside established review or security processes.

Best practices:

• Review and refactor early.
• Add comments and documentation.
• Stick to your team’s standards.

Security risks

Unless prompted, AI may overlook safeguards or repeat risky patterns without warning.

Common risks:

• Hardcoded credentials
• Insecure forms or endpoints
• Unvalidated user input

Use with intent

Vibe coding shines when paired with human judgment. AI can speed things up, but only if you stay involved by reviewing, testing, and shaping the output.

The role of AI in vibe coding

Vibe coding starts with a simple idea: describe what you want and let an AI tool help build it. These tools translate your intent into code that adapts with each new prompt. Vibe coding AI tools are powered by large language models trained on public code and natural language prompts—a method informed by breakthroughs in AI models and natural language processing.

What AI tools can do:

• Turn natural language into code
• Handle setup, boilerplate, and formatting
• Suggest next steps or full functions
• Explain logic or clean it up
• Adjust to changes mid-task

Example:

A simple comment like, Create a REST API to fetch weather data using Flask, can generate full route setup, function logic, and a clean JSON response—all ready to test.

How agentic AI powers the rhythm of vibe coding

In vibe coding, you describe, the AI responds. You shape the result, it adapts. This exchange builds momentum—making it easier to explore ideas and focus on structure and intent.

The loop:

1. Describe your goal
2. Let the AI generate a draft
3. Revise or add constraints
4. Repeat until it’s where you want it

This steady rhythm keeps you engaged while turning prompts into real, usable output.

Where it gets tricky

The same strengths can become pitfalls if you rely on AI without reviewing the output. Watch for:

• Over-reliance. Generated code isn’t always secure, efficient, or correct.
• Skill shortcuts. Beginners might skip learning the fundamentals.
• Lack of clarity. AI can’t explain its choices, which makes it harder to trace decisions or spot edge cases.

Human in the loop

AI makes vibe coding possible, but it’s still a collaboration. You bring the ideas, the AI tool responds. You stay in charge, shaping the result.

Real-world examples of vibe coding

Vibe coding is already reshaping how people build software, prompt by prompt. People with a range of backgrounds are using it to test ideas, collaborate more easily, and stay focused. These real-world use cases also highlight how machine learning supports dynamic, iterative workflows. (1)

Game development: Rapid prototyping

A solo developer used Copilot inside Unity, a game development platform, to build gameplay systems like enemy spawning and movement. One prompt—Create a patrol component that spawns enemies randomly within a rectangular area—produced a complete script within seconds.

What changed:

• Core gameplay features worked almost instantly.
• The developer spent less time on routine code and more on crafting game behavior.
• Quick iteration made it easier to spot bugs and fine tune the design.

Takeaway:

Vibe coding makes it easier to test mechanics, iterate on design, and create playable prototypes quickly—without getting bogged down in boilerplate.

Tech education: Accelerating student learning

Students exploring Copilot used it to create full-stack apps with natural-language help—asking for explanations, debugging tips, and design adjustments along the way. These interactions helped them learn concepts through iteration and real-time feedback.

What changed:

• Projects progressed quickly with Copilot’s suggestions.
• Students learned by refining and reviewing generated code.
• Exploring code with AI made the learning process feel more approachable and less intimidating.

Takeaway:

Pairing Copilot with hands-on practice gave students confidence while reinforcing key development concepts. (2)

All vibe coding tools share one core feature: they let you describe what you want in plain language and help you turn that into working code. But they vary widely in where they live, how they interact with your code, and who they’re built for.

Some tools work inside your code editor—called an integrated development environment, or IDE—while others run in the browser or help you build software with minimal coding. AI agents can work inside your IDE, in the browser, or across multiple tools, taking multi-step actions based on your goals.

Here are the main types of tools used for vibe coding:

AI agents and orchestrators

These experimental tools follow prompts to generate full app scaffolds or perform multi-step tasks automatically.

Best for:

• Research or automation pilots
• Early-stage exploration
• Drafting workflows that humans refine

AI code completion assistants

These tools work inside your editor to suggest code as you type. They’re great for speeding up routine tasks.

Best for:

• Developers who work in IDEs
• Teams handling boilerplate or repetitive logic
• Fast, in-editor productivity

Conversational AI coding assistants

These tools let you describe what you want in plain language. They help you interact with your code and understand it in context. They’re great for helping you learn as you go.

Best for:

• Prototyping and idea exploration
• Debugging or reverse-engineering unfamiliar code
• Solo projects, small teams, or hands-on learners

Agentic systems with prompt support

With these low-code systems, all you have to do is describe your app or logic in plain language and let the tool do the rest.

Best for:

• Designers, product leads, or non-developers
• MVPs and business tools
• Reducing developer backlog

Choosing what fits

Pick the tool that suits your stack, style, and goals:

• New to coding? Chat-based or low-code platforms can be a good start.
• Working on a full-stack project? Try an in-editor assistants with context.
• Curious to experiment? Explore agents to see what’s possible.

How to apply vibe coding to software development

Vibe coding offers a more natural way to design, build, and adapt software. By using plain language and AI assistance, you can sketch ideas, shape code as you go, and stay focused on what matters. It’s a flexible approach that fits into modern workflows and adapts to different team needs.

Go from idea to prototype quickly

Use prompts to sketch and test ideas before choosing a tech stack or setting up architecture.

Example: A startup team uses Copilot to spin up UI components and backend routes for a scheduling app. Within hours, they’re demoing a working prototype to stakeholders.

Cut boilerplate and move faster

Vibe coding handles repetitive tasks like form validation and API scaffolding, so you can focus on logic and structure.

Example: An enterprise developer uses Copilot to generate unit tests and scaffold routes—cutting build time and reducing context switching.

Support learning and onboarding

New team members can explore unfamiliar code by asking questions and generating simplified examples.

Example: A junior developer working on a web app uses Copilot to improve a code block. Copilot suggests a cleaner, more idiomatic JavaScript version, helping them understand best practices as they refine the code.

Collaborate across roles

Non-engineers can describe intent in plain English and shape code that developers refine.

Example: A designer shares layout details in natural language to generate responsive HTML/CSS for a landing page. A developer then reviews and adjusts the code for consistency and accessibility.

Stay flexible mid project

Need to pivot? It’s easier to re-prompt and adjust AI-generated code than rebuild from scratch.

Example: A development team reworks their architecture mid-project by prompting for updated scaffolds and logic adjustments—speeding up iteration without losing momentum.

(1) Jonathan Yu, “AI-Powered Unity Game Development with GitHub Copilot: Long Term Review,” last modified November 13, 2023.

(2) Bryan Puryear and Greg Sprint, “GitHub Copilot in the Classroom: Learning to Code with AI Assistance,” Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges 38, no. 1 (2022): 37–47