Vibe Coding: A New Era to Code without Code
"Forget That the Code Even Exists"
Introduction
In February 2025, Andrej Karpathy, a computer scientist and OpenAI co-founder, introduced "vibe coding" to describe a revolutionary approach where developers describe what they want in plain language and let artificial intelligence handle the actual code writing [1]. Instead of learning complex programming languages and typing every line manually, developers now engage in natural conversation with an AI assistant. Karpathy described this as "fully giving in to the vibes, embracing exponentials, and forgetting that the code even exists" [2]. This approach has gained remarkable traction, with 25% of startups in Y Combinator's Winter 2025 batch reporting codebases that were 95% AI-generated [3].
The process is straightforward. Users describe their desired outcome in everyday language, such as "create a website that shows the weather in my city." The AI interprets this request and generates the corresponding code. Users run the code to verify it works, and if adjustments are needed, they simply tell the AI what to change. This cycle of description, generation, testing, and refinement continues until achieving the desired result [4].
Practical Scenario
Consider a practical scenario. A small Kebab Shop owner wants to track daily sales but has no programming experience. Using vibe coding, they might start by asking the AI to "create an app where I can enter what I sold today and see my total earnings." The AI produces a basic application with input fields and a total display. The owner then requests "make it show sales for the whole week, not just today," and the AI updates the application accordingly. When they ask to "add a graph so I can see which days I sell the most," the AI integrates a visual chart. The entire process happens through normal conversation, with no need to understand programming syntax or logic [5].
Traditional programming requires writing every line of code manually, mastering difficult languages like Python or Java, where a single missing character can break the entire program. Building simple applications often takes weeks or months, accessible only to those with years of training. Vibe coding allows users to communicate in plain language while AI handles technical details, automatically fixes common mistakes, and produces working prototypes in hours instead of weeks [6].
Benefit for Non-Coder
For people without coding backgrounds, this shift opens remarkable possibilities. Kevin Roose, a New York Times journalist with no professional coding experience, created personalized applications including one analyzing refrigerator contents to suggest lunch options [2]. Entrepreneurs can test business ideas with working prototypes in hours instead of hiring developers for weeks. Office workers can automate repetitive tasks, and individuals gain understanding of how software works by seeing descriptions transform into functioning programs [7].
However, the technology has significant limitations. AI-generated code can contain hidden bugs, security vulnerabilities, or logical errors that aren't immediately apparent [8]. One documented case showed an AI creating fabricated customer reviews when building an e-commerce website [2]. When developers don't understand the code they're deploying, they cannot effectively debug serious issues. Industries requiring high reliability, such as banking, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, continue requiring human programmers who comprehend every system detail [9]. Professional developers have reported "development hell" when modifying vibe-coded projects, as the code works initially but becomes difficult to adapt as requirements change [10].
The Comparison
Traditional coding relies primarily on explicit programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, or C++, where the human developer writes logic line by line. In this approach, the human acts as both the architect and the implementer, requiring strong mastery of syntax, libraries, memory management, and debugging techniques. Development speed is generally slower because programmers must manually type code, search documentation, and resolve errors. However, this method offers high precision, as the developer maintains full control over every implementation detail. Maintenance is also relatively easier, since the original author typically understands the code structure and design decisions.
"Make me a snake game that looks like it's from the 90s but with neon colors."
In contrast, vibe coding, an AI-assisted approach, uses natural language as the primary input, allowing developers to describe desired functionality in plain English. Here, the human’s role shifts from direct code writer to manager or reviewer, focusing on validating, refining, or rejecting the AI-generated output. Rather than deep syntactic knowledge, this approach emphasizes high-level logical thinking, product understanding, and effective prompt iteration. Vibe coding enables extremely rapid development, often producing functional prototypes almost instantly. However, precision can be inconsistent, as the generated code reflects the AI’s interpretation of the request rather than exact human intent. As a result, maintenance may become more challenging, especially when the developer lacks a deep understanding of the generated codebase.
Overall, traditional coding prioritizes control, precision, and long-term maintainability, while vibe coding prioritizes speed, accessibility, and rapid experimentation, with trade-offs in transparency and maintainability.
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Conclusion
The technology proves most valuable for specific use cases. Hobbyists working on weekend projects, entrepreneurs developing quick prototypes, students learning programming concepts, and small business owners needing simple automation tools all benefit from vibe coding's accessibility. However, it remains inappropriate for mission-critical applications in finance, healthcare, or infrastructure that require bulletproof reliability and comprehensive code review [12].
The most promising approach combines AI assistance with human expertise. Industry leaders advocate for "responsible AI-assisted development," where AI generates code but humans review, test, and fully understand what has been created [4]. Guido van Rossum, creator of Python, uses vibe coding tools regularly but notes they function "like having an electric saw instead of a hand saw", increasing productivity while the craftsperson still needs building knowledge [8]. This balanced perspective recognizes that vibe coding democratizes software creation while acknowledging that human judgment, creativity, and accountability remain irreplaceable. The future likely involves not replacing developers but expanding who can participate in software creation, turning ideas into reality through natural conversation with increasingly capable AI assistants.
References
[1] A. Karpathy, "Tweet introducing vibe coding concept," X (formerly Twitter), Feb. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://x.com/karpathy
[2] "Vibe coding," Wikipedia, Dec. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibe_coding
[3] I. Mehta, "A quarter of startups in YC's current cohort have codebases that are almost entirely AI-based generated," TechCrunch, Mar. 6, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://techcrunch.com
[4] S. Willison, "Not all AI-assisted programming is vibe coding (but vibe coding rocks)," simonwillison.net, Mar. 19, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://simonwillison.net/2025/Mar/19/vibe-coding/
[5] "What is Vibe Coding?," IBM Think, Dec. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/vibe-coding
[6] "Vibe Coding Explained: Tools and Guides," Google Cloud, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://cloud.google.com/discover/what-is-vibe-coding
[7] "Vibe coding and other ways AI is changing who can build apps and how," Microsoft Source, Nov. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/ai/
[8] M. Rodriguez, "Vibe coding unlocks creativity and speed," GitHub Blog, May 16, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/vibe-coding-your-roadmap/
[9] "The Rise of Vibe Coding in 2025: A Revolution or a Reckoning?," Medium, Oct. 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://medium.com
[10] "Fast Company reports on vibe coding hangover," Fast Company, Sep. 2025.
[11] B. Edwards, "Will the future of software development run on vibes?," Ars Technica, Mar. 6, 2025.
[12] "Introducing vibe coding in Google AI Studio," Google AI Blog, Oct. 27, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://blog.google/technology/developers/introducing-vibe-coding-in-google-ai-studio/
Some parts are refined using AI to get a clear and concise insight.
Good read for those who are new to vibecoding Indra Dewaji! If readers are interested to find out more about the different tools used for vibecoding, maybe they should take a look at https://vibecoding.app
Nice to connect with you and talk about Vibe Coding
Nice..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Indra Dewaji This is a compelling example of what vibe coding unlocks when the problem space is small, observable, and cheap to iterate on — and I think that’s an important distinction to make explicit. The part I’m still wrestling with is where this approach starts to bend under its own success. As complexity increases (more users, deeper dependencies, higher stakes), the same freedom that enables speed can quietly become a source of fragility unless new structures are introduced. That said, your story strongly supports the idea that vibe coding lowers the barrier to entry in a way we haven’t seen before — much like punk did for music. The interesting question for me is: how do we preserve that creative accessibility while gradually layering in the guardrails needed for more complex systems, without killing the very energy that made this possible in the first place? Would love to hear how you think about that transition point.