Vibe Coding

Last week, I spoke with a developer who was worried about the future of jobs due to AI advancements. The reality is, with the rapid pace of innovation, it’s hard to predict the next 5 years.

When we began our careers in 1998, technology evolved slowly, and human decision-making was crucial at every step of software development. Today, AI-powered coding tools are taking over many of these decisions.

To stay relevant, we must go beyond just coding — we need to visualize, innovate, and create meaningful solutions that leverage AI, rather than compete with it. so here we are talking about Vibe coding.

Vibe coding is rapidly emerging as the defining trend in software development for 2025 and beyond. Coined by Andrej Karpathy, former AI leader at Tesla and OpenAI co-founder, vibe coding flips traditional coding on its head, turning software creation into a conversation with AI assistants, where vibes and intentions matter as much as syntax and structure.

Vibe coding is not about writing every line, but about crafting the vision and letting AI bring your imagination to life—code becomes an outcome, not a constraint.

What is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding is an artificial intelligence-assisted approach where developers describe what they want to build in plain language, not code. Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or dedicated tools like GitHub Copilot and Replit generate code based on descriptions, examples, and iterative feedback.

The defining feature? Developers let go of micromanagement—they accept AI-generated code as-is (or with minimal guidance), focusing more on iterating, testing, and feedback rather than laborious code-crafting. As Karpathy said: “fully giving in to the vibes, embracing exponentials, and forgetting that the code even exists”.

How Does Vibe Coding Work?

1. Prompt: You start by describing your desired app, feature, or function in natural language.
2. AI Generation: The AI coding assistant turns your words into code, inserting it into your project.
3. Experiment & Feedback: You run the code, check results, and (if needed) prompt the AI to refine or fix issues.
4. Iteration: Repeat as needed, guiding the AI until the application works as intended.
5. Refinement (Optional): Optional in vibe coding—many “vibe coders” are happy with a working draft, even if imperfect.

Example Prompt:

"Build an interactive dashboard that visualizes real-time stock prices and news sentiment. Make it look modern and allow filtering by sector or price movement."

Why is Vibe Coding Trending?

• Speed: Projects that once took weeks can be prototyped in hours.
• Accessibility: Non-coders and junior developers can now build apps, drastically lowering the barrier to entry.
• Creativity: Developers focus more on the what and why, less on the how.
• Startup Acceleration: Startups are building 95%+ AI-generated codebases and reaching massive revenue milestones with lean teams.

Challenges and Realities

• Code Quality: Vibe coding is great for MVPs and prototypes but can generate messy or inefficient code needing later manual refinement.
• Debugging: AI-generated code can be harder to debug, especially for larger or long-lived projects.
• Security & Safety: Accepting opaque code increases risk of bugs or vulnerabilities, as highlighted by recent issues in fast-scaling vibe coding platforms.
• Developer Skill Shifts: The skill focus moves from writing code to coaching, reviewing, and testing AI outputs.

Who’s Using Vibe Coding?

• Startups: 25% of Y Combinator Winter 2025 startups reportedly have codebases that are 95% AI-generated.
• Enterprise and Solo Developers: Everyone from freelance app creators to multinational tech giants is experimenting with vibe coding, especially for rapid prototyping and market testing.
• Non-coders: Journalists, product managers, and hobbyists are building real apps for personal or one-off use, without deep engineering backgrounds.

Popular Tools

• Replit
• GitHub Copilot
• Cursor
• Google Gemini
• OpenAI Codex

Vibe Coding’s Outlook

Vibe coding signals a new era where software’s biggest bottleneck moves from technical skills to imagination and communication. By “vibing” with AI, millions of new creators can prototype, experiment, and ship MVPs faster than ever. But as the trend grows, so does the need for new skills in quality assurance, review, and AI safety.

It’s the most creative, chaotic, and democratizing moment software development has seen in decades. Whether you’re a pro engineer or a curious newcomer: vibe on, and see what you can build when you let the AI lead the way.

What is for us (Developer @ Heart)? 

Vibe coding fundamentally transforms the role of human developers in software creation by shifting their primary responsibilities from manual code writing to higher-level design, oversight, and collaborative problem-solving.

1. From Coder to Architect and Product Thinker

Human developers are no longer focused on handcrafting every line of code. Instead, they articulate product requirements, describe desired features in natural language, and set the overall direction for AI systems to implement. This change elevates developers to the roles of system architects, product designers, and solution strategists.

2. Prompt Engineering and Iterative Coaching

Much of a developer’s time is now spent crafting effective prompts, testing iterations, and offering targeted feedback. Developers “coach” AI assistants—guiding, correcting, and refining the generated output—developing a skill set that blends communication, creativity, and technical know-how.

3. Quality Assurance and Code Review

With AI handling the bulk of initial code generation, human oversight is critical for code review, debugging, security auditing, and quality assurance. Developers are increasingly responsible for catching edge cases, maintaining reliability, and ensuring that AI-generated code meets organisational standards.

4. Problem Solving and Creative Experimentation

Vibe coding frees up time for deeper problem-solving and creative experimentation. Developers can rapidly prototype and validate ideas, explore unconventional approaches, and focus on innovation rather than routine tasks.

5. Democratisation and Collaboration

The lowered barrier allows a wider range of team members—including non-traditional coders like PMs or designers—to participate in software creation. Human experts act as facilitators, bringing together domain knowledge and validating AI solutions in real-world contexts.

6. New Skills and Responsibilities

Key skills for developers now include:

• Crafting unambiguous, precise prompts
• Interpreting and validating AI outputs
• Risk assessment, especially for security and long-term maintainability
• Continuous learning to adapt as AI capabilities evolve

Vibe coding empowers human developers to focus on what matters most—innovation, oversight, product thinking, and creative direction—while AI handles the heavy lifting of code generation. This partnership not only boosts productivity but also expands the horizons of who can participate in building and shipping software.

Startups move fast — if you’re looking to leverage AI for rapid development or innovative solutions, let’s discuss how we can work together.

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