Summary
“A new way of coding is emerging where AI writes most of the code and humans just guide the process — meet vibe coding.”
Vibe coding is a buzzworthy approach to software development where developers (and even non-developers) describe what they want in natural language, and a Large Language Model (LLM) generates the code. Instead of meticulously crafting every line, humans focus on testing, tweaking, and guiding the AI’s output—letting the “vibes” steer the process.
Where It Came From
The term was coined by Andrej Karpathy, former Tesla AI lead and co-founder of OpenAI, in early 2025. Karpathy described it as “fully giving in to the vibes, embracing exponentials, and forgetting that the code even exists.” The goal is to shift coding from syntax-wrangling to idea-realisation.
How It Works
- Describe the task or goal in plain language.
- Let the AI generate a code implementation.
- Test the result and provide feedback.
- Iterate until it works as intended.
This process resembles pair-programming with a very fast, very literal partner—one who doesn’t get tired, but can also misunderstand instructions spectacularly.
Who’s Using It
- Hobbyists building quick prototypes.
- Startups in early stages, with Y Combinator’s Winter 2025 batch reporting some codebases being 95% AI-generated.
- Developers looking to rapidly experiment with features or architectures.
- Me 😀
Benefits and Risks
| Benefits | Risks |
|---|---|
| Rapid prototyping | Harder to understand underlying code |
| Lower barrier to entry | Potential hidden bugs and security flaws |
| Creative freedom | Maintenance can be challenging |
Experts caution against shipping vibe-coded software to production without thorough human review and testing.
Why It Matters
Vibe coding hints at a future where programming becomes more about creativity and less about syntax. It could democratise software creation, making it accessible to anyone with ideas. But it also raises questions: Who’s responsible for AI-generated mistakes? How do we ensure long-term maintainability?
Like many tech trends, vibe coding is both exciting and risky. Whether it becomes the new normal or remains a niche approach will depend on how we balance speed, creativity, and quality.