Vibe coding represents a new approach to software development where programmers describe what they want in everyday language and artificial intelligence generates the actual code. This method shifts the programmer’s role from writing lines of code to guiding an AI through conversations, testing its output and making refinements through trial and error.
What Is Vibe Coding? Key Features
- Plain-language instructions instead of traditional programming.
- Limited review of computer-generated code.
- Copy-and-paste workflow into development environments.
- Testing through execution rather than code inspection.
- Back-and-forth conversations to fix problems rather than manual troubleshooting.
History of Vibe Coding
The term “vibe coding” was coined by Andrej Karpathy in February 2023, emerging as AI technologies advanced enough to handle complex programming tasks. The concept evolved from earlier AI coding assistants, with roots tracing back to late 2022 when tools like OpenAI’s Codex and GitHub Copilot began generating useful code snippets from natural language prompts.
In 2023, Karpathy famously predicted that “the hottest new programming language is English,” suggesting a future where high-level prompts might replace traditional, low-level coding. This prediction set the stage for vibe coding’s development.
Karpathy described this method as one where developers “fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials and forget that the code even exists.” This captured the core idea: using AI as the primary coder while the human provides a guiding vision.
Shortly after its introduction, the concept gained significant traction in tech communities and even earned recognition in mainstream dictionaries as a trending term.
Vibe Coding Example: Chrome Extension Project
In 2023, I put this technique into practice while creating a Chrome extension. My goal was straightforward: build an extension that could collect web content and store it in our company’s AI data storage, Agent700’s Data Vault, for research purposes.
As I shared in my LinkedIn post at the time: “I approached this as an experiment. Could our AI platform really tackle a project with this level of complexity? I began by creating an agent and assigning it the role of Chrome Extension Developer.”
My Chrome extension project followed classic vibe coding principles:
1. Define the Goal Clearly
I mentally outlined what we needed: “An extension that can scrape specific data from websites and integrate it with our internal systems.”
2. Consult AI for Technical Framework
I asked the AI to explain how Chrome extensions are built and what files would be involved.
3. Generate Initial Code
The AI produced the foundation of the extension with manifest files, background scripts and UI elements.
4. Iterative Refinement
I built the extension feature by feature, requesting improvements when needed.
5. Handle Conversation Limitations
When the AI reintroduced bugs from earlier in our conversation, I started fresh conversations with updated context from Agent700’s data storage.
6. Collaborative Debugging
Rather than debugging code myself, I explained issues conversationally to the AI.
7. Final Deployment
The completed extension was published to the Chrome Web Store without my having written a single line of code.
The most striking aspect was how the process felt like working with a human coding partner, except that partner was AI. As I noted afterward, I hadn’t written a single line of code. I had adjusted some, yes, but none of them were from my imagination.
Benefits of Vibe Coding
Vibe coding offers several benefits to those using it.
Accessibility
Vibe coding opens software creation to non-programmers and those with rusty coding skills.
Speed
It significantly accelerates early development and prototyping.
Reduced Barriers
This method focuses on solving problems rather than syntax details.
Organizational Potential
It allows team members throughout an organization to create solutions to everyday problems.
Cost Efficiency
Vibe coding creates viable proofs-of-concept that can inform later production versions.
Innovation
It enables analytical thinkers without coding expertise to develop unique solutions.
Limitations of Vibe Coding
Despite its advantages, vibe coding is not without some drawbacks.
Code Quality
Production-ready applications often require substantial refactoring by professional developers.
Scaling Challenges
Systems become increasingly difficult to fix as they grow more complex.
Knowledge Prerequisites
Although simpler than traditional coding, effective use still requires some technical understanding.
After reflecting on my Chrome extension experience, I acknowledged both the plusses and the minuses of this approach:
“I agree with vibe coding opening the doors to non-programmers and also note two important considerations when going down this path. Currently, those who benefit most are individuals with some basic knowledge of software engineering. Without the right tools, significant challenges arise as the code base grows or when working with an existing large code base which we are hoping to solve at Level Up Development leveraging Agent700. Overall, this is the future, and it opens up new possibilities.”
My experience shows that, while vibe coding helps bypass technical obstacles, developers should remain mindful of maintenance challenges as projects expand. That said, it offers an excellent way to reduce costs for proof-of-concept projects!
What Is the Future of Vibe Coding?
AI expert Simon Willison highlights an important distinction between using AI as a coding assistant (with proper review and testing) versus pure vibe coding (accepting whatever the AI produces).
Meanwhile, critics like Gary Marcus point out that AI-generated code primarily recombines patterns from its training data, though one could argue that most human innovation similarly builds upon existing ideas and techniques. The key difference lies in the AI’s lack of true understanding versus a human developer’s intentional adaptation of prior knowledge.
Most experts recommend a balanced approach:
- Vibe coding works well for prototypes and personal projects.
- Critical systems still demand traditional programming expertise.
- The divide between starting projects (now easy) and maintaining them long-term (still challenging) creates new dynamics in software development.
Vibe coding challenges traditional ideas about programming skill while raising important questions about software quality in an AI-assisted world. My Chrome extension case study demonstrates both its promise and limitations, confirming that while ideas come easily, “the execution of the idea is everything.”
