What is Vibe Coding?
⁉️

What is Vibe Coding?

/tech-category
EdtechMartechFuture of work
/type
Content
Status
Done
/read-time

12 min

/test

What is Vibe Coding?

Written by Stephane Boghossian

There’s a new way to build—and it doesn’t start with a blank code editor. It starts with a vibe.

Vibe Coding is what happens when you stop typing and start orchestrating. It’s not no-code. It’s not low-code. It’s AI-first creation where your words steer the machine, and your product is built in real time by your ideas. You’re not learning syntax. You’re learning taste.

This isn’t some fringe movement—it’s happening now. Founders are shipping SaaS in days. Designers are launching tools without touching React. Kids are building full apps with a single prompt.

And the best part? Anyone can start. Today.

This is your playbook.

Let’s break it down.

What Vibe Coding is — and Why It Matters

Way to Code Anthropic

Vibe coding, coined by Andrej Karpathy in February 2025, is a paradigm shift: instead of crafting every line, you describe what you want in plain English and let an AI like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or Cursor write the code. It's about vibing with the tools, not wrestling with syntax.

The power? It instantly democratizes development: non-tech founders, hobbyists—even journalists—can build apps or games. NYT’s Kevin Roose, despite having zero coding background, built a retro-style game called “Meatball Mania” in 40 minutes using AI. Y Combinator reports that 25% of winter 2025 startups have codebases 95% AI-generated.

But this ease comes at a cost: code quality, security, and ownership become murky. AI often introduces bugs or introduces vulnerabilities, and those who can’t review the code risk shipping untrusted software . Greg Brockman of OpenAI even warns that engineering is losing its joy—developers are reduced to code QA and deployment.

But it matters because it’s reshaping the builder economy. Solo founders can now go from idea to prototype in hours. Y Combinator’s Garry Tan says vibe coding lets 10 engineers do the work of 50–100 . AWS’s Deepak Singh sees AI shifting developers toward problem-solving roles, letting tools handle the routine

How to Start Vibe Coding Today

Learn vibe coding with Lovable and Supabase

Even if you’ve never written a line of code.

You don’t need to code. You need to vibe. That means: let the AI do the typing while you steer the product.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Pick a canvas, not a codebase

Don’t open VS Code. Don’t install Node. Use a platform designed for vibe coding:

  • Lovable.dev or equivalent – build full apps with a chat-like AI flow.
  • Cursor – AI-native IDE that feels like collaborating with a genius cofounder.

Start wherever feels intuitive. You’re not committing to tooling—you’re exploring vibes.

2. Describe your dream, not your stack

“Build a journal app that speaks in pirate slang.”

“I need a site to sell mushroom-themed wedding invitations.”

“Make a Chrome extension that blocks LinkedIn during lunch.”

You’re not giving specs. You’re giving direction. Your job is vision. AI’s job is translation.

3. Ride the loop

Prompt → Build → Test → Tweak → Repeat.

This is the new dev cycle. Vibe coders live in fast loops:

  • Don’t like the UI? Say: “Make it minimalist.”
  • Want a DB? Say: “Add Supabase and email login.”
  • Got a bug? Say: “Fix the crash on mobile view.”

Fabian (Lovable) nailed it:

“Open 10 tabs. Work in parallel. It’s the new AB testing.”

Speed is your friend. Polish comes after.

4. Work with the AI, not against it

  • Ask the AI to explain the code it writes.
  • Ask for comments, refactoring, accessibility, SEO.
  • Ask for three versions, not one. Then pick your favorite.

You’re not babysitting a robot. You’re vibing with a co-creator. If it stalls, change your tone. You’re the DJ—AI is the deck.

5. Layer in structure later

Early-stage vibe coding is chaotic on purpose. You build before you plan. Later, layer in:

  • Version control (GitHub)
  • Analytics (Plausible, LogSnag)
  • Payment (Stripe or LemonSqueezy)
  • Auth (Clerk, Supabase)

But upfront? Just build what feels right. As Sarah (Norain) said:

“AI hasn’t made startups easier. It’s just changed what’s hard.”

6. Don’t learn to code. Learn to prompt.

Code is now your second language. Your first is intent.

Start collecting your own Model Context Packs (MCPs) — reusable prompt structures that let you:

  • Rebuild ideas in new verticals.
  • Share templates with the community.
  • Clone entire apps and remix.

You’re building a vibe library, not a codebase.

7. Ship it—even if it sucks

Put it online. Share the link. Get 5 friends to try it.

One-person unicorns exist. But only if you stop lurking and start publishing. Execution is your moat now. Not polish. Not perfection.

As Richard (NextML) said:

“If you know your customer, the tools will do the building.”

Your Advice for Future Builders

LLM Leaderboard

Start non-technical

Download Replit or use Copilot in VS Code. Prompt AI to build something simple: a to‑do list, a calculator, a landing page. Replace code with conversation.

Define success early

Is your goal learning or shipping? Prototype fast, then test with real users. Iterate based on feedback—your taste matters more than code quality.

⚠️ Don’t blind-vibe

If you don’t understand generated code, stop. Ask the AI to explain, add comments, or simplify. No understanding = no responsibility.

🧠 Learn even a little

Vibe coding doesn't replace coding fundamentals. Knowing basic HTML/CSS/JS helps you catch errors, customize behavior, and extend beyond what AI gives you .

🔒 Prioritize security

Don’t ship anything without reviewing for vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL injection, open credentials). AI can produce code at scale—but you need to check it .

🎯 Own your environment

Use version control and set up safe test environments. Treat vibe-coded apps like any other project—with CI, backups, monitoring.

Advice for the Intimidated

  1. Shift mindset: Speak in English. Don’t fear technical terms. “Create chat UI in React” is enough.
  2. Learn by reverse-engineering: Run code, tinker, ask the AI to add comments or change variables.
  3. Lean on communities: Follow the vibe app discord community posts—and join subreddits to see examples and share learnings.
  4. Pick a narrow domain: Automate a personal task first—like a meal planner, daily reminder, or mini‑game—before tackling bigger apps.
  5. Trust iteration over perfection: First pass will be rough. Improvement comes from loops.

The Future of Vibe Coding

Vibe coding isn’t a trend. It’s a transition. And we’re only at step one.

The Future of Vibe Coding

1. The IDE becomes invisible

No more VS Code. No more folders. Just one interface: you and the AI, in a shared creative canvas. Real-time collaboration. Instant previews. Full-stack output. Tools like Lovable, Replit, and Cursor are already halfway there.

The next-gen vibe coder won’t “edit files.” They’ll edit outcomes.

2. Models evolve from assistant to architect

Today’s AI writes your code. Tomorrow’s AI plans your roadmap.

It scopes features. Sets up auth. Picks the best stack for your use case. Integrates Stripe, Postgres, and onboarding flows before you finish your coffee.

You’ll start seeing true AI Product Managers — and vibe coders will simply guide them.

3. Every builder becomes a founder

The gatekeeping is gone. The builder class is rising.

  • You want to validate an idea? Ship it by lunch.
  • You want to test 3 pricing strategies? Run them in parallel.
  • You want to clone an app? Remix it from the vibe store.

Execution speed becomes your competitive edge. Taste becomes your IP.

4. The dev role fragments

Engineers won’t disappear. But they’ll evolve into:

  • AI orchestrators – maintaining system prompts, chaining tools.
  • Infra guardians – securing, scaling, auditing the chaos.
  • Pattern designers – defining reusable context packs, workflows, and LLM agents.

The job won’t be to write code. It’ll be to ensure the AI writes the right code.

5. The platform becomes the product

Think App Store, but built by users in real time.

Every app is:

  • Forkable
  • Remixable
  • Shareable
  • Disposable

You won’t download software anymore. You’ll spawn it. Siri-style. Local, ephemeral, private. Built just for you—and instantly sharable if it vibes.

Bottom Line?

Vibe coding won’t kill developers.

But it will kill excuses.

The only thing stopping you from building is your own hesitation.

So don’t wait for the future.

Start vibing.

Conclusion

Vibe coding is transforming software development: AI-driven, intent-first, iteration-rich. It matters because it democratizes creation, empowers small teams, and challenges the old dev hierarchy.

  • Part 1: Vibe coding is AI-powered, natural-language-driven software creation—fast, accessible, imperfect.
  • Part 2: Start with prompts, iterate in AI, review code, refine for production.
  • Part 3: For non-tech builders—ask, reverse, tighten, secure, iterate.

To future builders: this is your invitation. Don’t fear vibe coding—own it wisely. Learn a strand of code, gain confidence to iterate, and build tools that matter.

Vibe Coding is going viral

References

🔑Security for Vibe Coders

🧰Vibe Tools Directories

🦄Is Vibe Coding the Next Unicorn?

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Vibe Coding Community Templates

🪅Future of Software

🏗️Siri — Apple’s Biggest Missed Opportunity

♠️Learn AI for free

🤖Course: What is AI

🤥Vibe Coding Is a Lie (Without the Fundamentals)

✉️Letter to All Makers

🖼️The Future of OpenAI Canvas

🎨How to Design Products in the AI Age

🎣Software as a Commodity

/pitch

Revolutionize software creation with AI-driven, intent-focused development.

/tldr

- Vibe Coding is an AI-first approach to software development that allows users to create applications by describing their ideas in plain language rather than writing code. - This method democratizes development, enabling non-technical individuals to build apps quickly, while also raising concerns about code quality and security. - The future of vibe coding will see AI evolve from writing code to planning entire projects, transforming the role of developers and making building accessible to everyone.

Persona

1. Non-technical Entrepreneurs 2. Designers with Minimal Coding Experience 3. Hobbyist Developers

Evaluating Idea

📛 Title The "AI-driven builder" vibe coding platform 🏷️ Tags 👥 Team: Founders, Designers, Developers 🎓 Domain Expertise Required: AI, Software Development 📏 Scale: Global 📊 Venture Scale: High 🌍 Market: Tech, Software Development 🌐 Global Potential: Yes ⏱ Timing: Now 🧾 Regulatory Tailwind: Low 📈 Emerging Trend: Yes ✨ Highlights: 🕒 Perfect Timing 🌍 Massive Market ⚡ Unfair Advantage 🚀 Potential ✅ Proven Market ⚙️ Emerging Technology ⚔️ Competition: Medium 🧱 High Barriers 💰 Monetization: Multiple Revenue Streams 💸 Multiple Revenue Streams: Yes 💎 High LTV Potential: Yes 📉 Risk Profile: Medium 🧯 Low Regulatory Risk 📦 Business Model: Subscription, Freemium 🔁 Recurring Revenue: Yes 💎 High Margins: Yes 🚀 Intro Paragraph Vibe coding is set to revolutionize software development by making it accessible to non-tech founders and hobbyists through AI-driven tools. With a vast market of potential users and multiple monetization strategies, this platform can rapidly scale while addressing a pressing need in the tech landscape. 🔍 Search Trend Section Keyword: "vibe coding" Volume: 60.5K Growth: +3331% 📊 Opportunity Scores Opportunity: 9/10 Problem: 8/10 Feasibility: 7/10 Why Now: 10/10 💵 Business Fit (Scorecard) Category Answer 💰 Revenue Potential: $1M–$10M ARR 🔧 Execution Difficulty: 5/10 – Moderate complexity 🚀 Go-To-Market: 9/10 – Organic + inbound growth loops 🧬 Founder Fit: Ideal for domain experts and hustlers ⏱ Why Now? The rise of AI tools and the democratization of software development are reshaping the industry, making it essential for founders to leverage these technologies to stay competitive. ✅ Proof & Signals - Keyword trends show skyrocketing interest in AI-driven development tools. - Reddit buzz around vibe coding and AI tools is generating significant engagement. - Recent market exits in the AI space reinforce the demand for innovative solutions. 🧩 The Market Gap Many non-technical founders struggle to translate their ideas into functional products due to the complexity of traditional coding. Vibe coding addresses this gap by allowing users to describe their vision in plain language, making software development more accessible. 🎯 Target Persona Demographics: Non-technical founders, hobbyists, designers Habits: Seeking simple solutions, engaging with tech communities Pain: Frustration with coding complexity, lack of technical skills How they discover & buy: Online research, community recommendations Emotional vs rational drivers: Desire to create vs fear of technical barriers Solo vs team buyer: Predominantly solo B2C, niche, or enterprise: B2C 💡 Solution The Idea: A platform that enables users to build software applications through natural language prompts, leveraging AI for code generation. How It Works: Users describe their desired application, and the AI translates that vision into working code. Go-To-Market Strategy: Launch through tech communities, leverage SEO, engage in social media to create awareness. Business Model: Subscription-based with freemium options to attract early users. Startup Costs: Medium Break down: Product development, team hiring, go-to-market expenses, legal considerations. 🆚 Competition & Differentiation Competitors: No-code platforms, traditional coding tools, AI-driven IDEs Intensity: Medium Core Differentiators: User-friendly interface, AI-driven code generation, focus on non-technical users ⚠️ Execution & Risk Time to market: Medium Risk areas: Technical feasibility, market acceptance, trust in AI-generated code Critical assumptions to validate first: User willingness to adopt AI-driven tools over traditional methods. 💰 Monetization Potential Rate: High Why: High customer lifetime value due to subscription model and potential for upsells through premium features. 🧠 Founder Fit The idea aligns with founders who have a passion for AI, software development, and the desire to democratize technology for non-technical users. 🧭 Exit Strategy & Growth Vision Likely exits: Acquisition by larger tech firms, potential for IPO. Potential acquirers: AI companies, software development platforms. 3–5 year vision: Expand product offerings, enhance AI capabilities, achieve global reach. 📈 Execution Plan (3–5 steps) 1. Launch a waitlist for early adopters. 2. Utilize SEO and Reddit to build community engagement. 3. Create a tripwire offer to convert users from freemium to paid. 4. Scale through community-led growth and referral programs. 5. Reach 1,000 paid users within the first year. 🛍️ Offer Breakdown 🧪 Lead Magnet – Free trial for early users 💬 Frontend Offer – Low-ticket entry subscription 📘 Core Offer – Main subscription product with tiered access 🧠 Backend Offer – Consulting or agency services for advanced use cases 📦 Categorization Field Value Type SaaS Market B2B / B2C Target Audience Non-technical founders, hobbyists Main Competitor No-code platforms Trend Summary AI-driven software development is democratizing access to technology. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Community Signals Platform Detail Score Reddit 3 subs • 1M+ members 9/10 Facebook 4 groups • 200K+ members 8/10 YouTube 10 relevant creators 7/10 🔎 Top Keywords Type Keyword Volume Competition Fastest Growing "vibe coding" 60.5K LOW Highest Volume "no-code platforms" 100K MED 🧠 Framework Fit (4 Models) The Value Equation Score: Excellent Market Matrix Quadrant: Category King A.C.P. Audience: 9/10 Community: 8/10 Product: 9/10 The Value Ladder Diagram: Bait → Frontend → Core → Backend (continuity model used) ❓ Quick Answers (FAQ) What problem does this solve? It simplifies software development for non-technical users. How big is the market? The global market for software development tools exceeds $600B. What’s the monetization plan? Subscription and freemium models for access to the platform. Who are the competitors? No-code platforms, traditional coding environments. How hard is this to build? Moderate complexity; requires AI integration and user-friendly interface design. 📈 Idea Scorecard (Optional) Factor Score Market Size 9 Trendiness 10 Competitive Intensity 7 Time to Market 8 Monetization Potential 9 Founder Fit 10 Execution Feasibility 8 Differentiation 9 Total (out of 40) 70 🧾 Notes & Final Thoughts This is a "now or never" bet to capitalize on the AI trend in software development. The primary fragility lies in tech adoption rates among non-technical users. The opportunity is vast, and execution speed is critical. Focus on building a strong community to validate and refine the offering.