What Is Vibe Coding?

The New Way Anyone Can Build Real Apps

Imagine describing your app idea in plain English -- "I want a task tracker where I can add to-dos, check them off, and see my daily progress" -- and having a working web app appear in minutes. That's vibe coding.

The term was coined by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy in early 2025. He described it as a style of programming where you fully give in to the vibes, embracing what the AI builds rather than fighting to control every line. Since then, the idea has exploded -- not just among developers, but among founders, designers, and complete beginners who have never written a single line of code.

Vibe coding doesn't mean bad code. It means AI writes the code, and you guide it. Your job is to know what you want, communicate it clearly, and iterate when the result isn't right yet.

You're the Director, AI Is the Coder

The biggest mindset shift in vibe coding is this: you're not learning to code. You're learning to direct a very capable AI coder.

Think of it like being a film director. You don't need to operate the camera, mix the sound, or edit the footage -- but you need to know what story you're telling, what the scene should feel like, and when something isn't working. The technical crew executes your vision. You refine and improve it.

With vibe coding, you write prompts like:

Add a sidebar with three navigation links: Dashboard, Reports, and Settings. The active link should be highlighted in blue.

The AI writes the code, you review the result, and you keep refining. Back and forth, just like working with any collaborator.

What Can You Actually Build?

Vibe coding works best for web apps -- anything that runs in a browser. Here's what people are building right now:

• Internal business tools: inventory trackers, CRM dashboards, project trackers
• SaaS prototypes: subscription apps, waitlist tools, landing pages with forms
• Personal tools: habit trackers, reading logs, budget calculators
• Client-facing tools: booking pages, proposal tools, quote generators
• Community tools: feedback boards, event trackers, member directories

Be realistic: vibe coding apps are great for MVPs, prototypes, and internal tools. A complex enterprise system with thousands of users and strict compliance requirements will still need professional engineering. But for getting from zero to a working, usable product? Vibe coding changes everything.

How Vibe Coding Differs from No-Code Tools

You might be wondering: how is this different from Webflow, Squarespace, or Bubble?

No-code tools give you templates and drag-and-drop components. They're great for websites and simple apps, but they're limited to what the platform supports. When you need custom logic -- show only certain content to users who signed up last week, for instance -- you hit a wall.

Vibe coding generates actual code, which means almost any feature is possible. You're not limited to a library of pre-built blocks. If you can describe it, the AI can usually build it.

The tradeoff: vibe coding requires you to learn how to prompt well, review AI output, and iterate when things break. It's a higher skill ceiling -- but also a much higher capability ceiling.

Try This: Write Your First Vibe Coding Prompt

Before the next lesson, try writing a prompt for an app you'd actually use. Don't worry about picking the right tool yet -- just practice describing what you want.

Use this structure:

Build a [type of app] that lets me [main action]. It should have [key features]. The design should feel [tone/style].

Example:

Build a simple habit tracker that lets me check off daily habits and see a streak count. It should have a clean, minimal design with a dark background.

Keep it specific. The more concrete your description, the better your results. In the next lesson, you'll pick the right tool and bring this idea to life.