Vibe coding is a modern approach to software development where developers use natural language prompts to instruct AI systems to generate code. Instead of writing code manually, you describe the desired functionality to an AI, which then produces the code. This method shifts the focus from writing individual lines of code to guiding and refining the AI’s output. It’s like having a conversation with an AI partner that understands your intentions and translates them into working code.
Brief History
- The term “vibe coding” was coined by Andrej Karpathy in February 2025.
- The concept emerged as AI models became capable of understanding and generating code from natural language.
- Tools like OpenAI’s Codex and GitHub Copilot paved the way for this approach.
- Karpathy suggested that “the hottest new programming language is English,” highlighting the shift towards using natural language for coding.
Examples of Vibe Coding in Action
- Building simple apps: Creating pricing calculators or visualizers using AI chatbots.
- Developing web applications: Generating front-end and back-end code for websites and applications.
- Prototyping: Quickly creating proofs-of-concept for new projects.
- Generating SQL queries: Describing the desired data in plain English and having the AI create the necessary SQL code.
- Creating personalized tools: Developing custom applications to address specific individual needs.
Tools for Vibe Coding
- Cursor: An AI-first code editor designed for pair programming with GPT-4.
- GitHub Copilot: An AI pair programmer that suggests code and can generate entire functions.
- Replit: A platform that allows you to describe your idea and have the AI build it for you.
- Windsurf (formerly Codeium): An IDE that integrates AI to enhance productivity.
- Apidog MCP Server: Bridges the gap between your backend and AI coding assistants.
- Cline: An AI assistant that can use your CLI and Editor, for VS Code.
- Bolt.new: An AI-powered web development agent that allows you to prompt, run, edit, and deploy full-stack applications directly from your browser.
- Devika: An open-source autonomous AI agent that takes high-level instructions and breaks them down into actionable development tasks.
Vibe coding is a rapidly evolving field, and these tools are constantly improving. As AI models become more sophisticated, vibe coding is likely to become even more powerful and accessible.
