With the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence—especially Generative AI—new tools and ways of working are emerging all the time, particularly in the tech world. Riding this wave of innovation is a term that’s been making the rounds among software developers: Vibe Coding.
But what exactly does it mean? How does it work? And most importantly: is it a developer killer, or just another buzzword?
What Is Vibe Coding?
Vibe Coding is a development approach where AI acts as a true coding partner. It goes far beyond simple autocomplete. These AI tools can help write functions, suggest improvements, explain sections of code, and in some cases, even generate entire systems—all based on natural language prompts.
It’s like programming “in the flow,” with AI building on your ideas in real time. In essence, you provide the intent, and the AI translates it into code.
Here’s how it works in practice: the developer interacts with an AI tool using natural language to describe what they want. The AI analyzes the request and generates code. It can also run tests and refine the solution. Once everything’s ready, you just publish or plug it into your existing system.
All of this happens fast—sometimes without the need for deep coding knowledge.
This was the context in which Andrej Karpathy, computer scientist and current OpenAI team member, coined the term Vibe Coding.
What Are the Benefits?
There are plenty of benefits, but here are the key ones that make the biggest impact:
Speed and Efficiency
AI provides suggestions that save time during development, especially for repetitive tasks or common patterns already used in the project.
Faster Learning Curve
Whether you’re new to coding or a seasoned developer, AI can offer new implementation ideas and help clarify confusing parts of your code.
Focus on the Problem, Not the Syntax
We’ve all been stuck on a piece of code or logic that just wouldn’t work—and often the issue is the syntax, not the concept. Vibe Coding helps shift your focus back to solving the actual problem.
Rapid Prototyping
Need to test an idea, build a quick proof of concept or MVP? With AI, you can go from zero to functional in a fraction of the time.
In short: it’s faster and easier to get things off the ground.
But... It’s Not All Perfect
Sounds amazing, right? Well, hold on. While there are clear advantages, Vibe Coding isn’t a silver bullet.
You can't blindly trust everything AI suggests. It doesn’t know your project, your requirements, special constraints, or your team’s development style.
Its suggestions are based on public code and language syntax. Sometimes you’ll get results that make you think, “Wait... what is this?” It’s not uncommon for AI-generated code to break business rules, violate security standards, or ignore best practices.
In some cases, over-reliance on AI can lead to a codebase that’s hard to maintain or even needs to be completely rewritten later—negating the early productivity gains.
And here’s a crucial point not just for Vibe Coding, but for any AI-generated output: curation. Always review what AI delivers—code, text, images—and make sure it fits your context and requirements.
So... What Now?
Whenever a new tech trend promises to revolutionize a well-established field like software development, it's normal for fears and questions to surface. The two most common ones we hear are:
Will Vibe Coding replace developers?
Absolutely not. It’s more of a productivity tool than a replacement. As we’ve discussed, human expertise is still essential to judge whether what the AI creates makes sense. Human oversight, technical judgment, and context remain irreplaceable.
Is Vibe Coding right for every project?
Well... it depends. Complex systems, legacy projects, or those requiring long-term maintenance still need a more traditional approach. But for quick builds, proofs of concept, MVPs, automations, or side projects—Vibe Coding can be a huge help.
Conclusion
When used responsibly, Vibe Coding can unlock new possibilities and enhance the work of your entire team. But it’s important to see it as a supporting tool, not a crutch. Always review AI suggestions, share insights with your team, and treat the AI as an assistant—not the final word.
AI can offer speed and shortcuts, but that doesn’t always mean it delivers quality. Revisit what it generates. Use it as a tool, not the destination.
