What if coding wasn’t about typing lines of syntax… but just describing what you want — and having an AI write it for you?
That’s the idea behind Vibe Coding — a concept introduced by Andrej Karpathy, a well-known figure in the AI world. It's not a framework, a tool, or a language — it's a new way of working with code, where your natural language and intent drive the development process.
Whether you're new to coding or already building complex apps, vibe coding is a concept worth understanding — because it's already changing how we write software.
There's a new kind of coding I call "vibe coding", where you fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists. It's possible because the LLMs (e.g. Cursor Composer w Sonnet) are getting too good. Also I just talk to Composer with SuperWhisper…
— Andrej Karpathy (@karpathy) February 2, 2025
What Is Vibe Coding?
Imagine walking into a coffee shop and saying:
“I want a medium cappuccino with extra foam and oat milk.”
Vibe coding is like that — but for software.
Instead of writing every piece of code manually, you describe the “vibe” of what you want — the layout, the logic, the features — and AI tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, or Cursor IDE help you build it.
It’s prompt-based coding, where:
- You describe the output
- The AI generates the code
- You review, tweak, and improve it
Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
We’re seeing a major shift in how code is written:
AI coding assistants are getting better at understanding complex requests.
Tools like ChatGPT-4o, Copilot X, and Cursor let you describe features like :
build me a navbar with a search field— and get working results
Developers are spending less time on boilerplate and more time on design, problem-solving, and user experience
In short: AI is helping devs focus on what matters, not just the syntax.
Real-World Vibe Coding Examples
ChatGPT (Web UI or API with GPT-4o)
Prompt Example:
Generate a responsive HTML page with a dark-themed navbar at the top, a hero section with a heading and a button, and a contact form at the bottom. Use modern CSS, preferably flexbox, and make it mobile-friendly.
- Fully structured HTML
- CSS either inline or separate
- Explanation of layout & responsiveness
Now make the navbar sticky and add a logo on the left.
GitHub Copilot (VS Code Plugin)
Example:
<!-- Create a dark navbar with a logo and search bar -->
Cursor IDE (ChatGPT Inside Your Code Editor)
Prompt Example:
Build a homepage layout with a navbar, hero section, three feature cards, and a footer. Make the layout fluid and use Tailwind CSS.
Cursor will:
- Inject real Tailwind classes
- Break it into components
- Offer clickable edits and highlight errors as you go
- Respond directly inline with context-aware suggestions
But… Is It Really That Easy?
What it’s great for:
- Generating layout boilerplate
- Rapid prototyping
- Learning by seeing real-time results
- Refactoring or cleaning up messy code
- Building simple features fast
What it’s not good for:
- Deep business logic
- State management in complex apps
- Projects where security, scalability, and performance matter deeply
- Replacing real developer understanding
Is Vibe Coding Replacing Developers?
No — but it is changing what developers do.
Instead of spending time writing repetitive UI components or basic CRUD routes, developers can:
- Focus on planning user journeys
- Improve accessibility and UX
- Write clean, testable logic
- Ship faster
It’s like shifting from typing every word to giving high-level directions.
Want to Try Vibe Coding Today?
You don’t need to install anything fancy. Try this:
Use ChatGPT:
Create a responsive contact form with Name, Email, and Message fields. Include simple CSS for styling and validate inputs using JavaScript.
Result:
See the Pen Contact Form by Vishvesh Shivam (@iamvishveshs) on CodePen.
Use GitHub Copilot:
Add this comment inside your JS file:
// Create a modal that shows when the 'Subscribe' button is clicked
Result:
See the Pen Subscribe Modal by Vishvesh Shivam (@iamvishveshs) on CodePen.
Use Cursor IDE:
Inside your React file:
Add a responsive navbar with dropdown menu and a light/dark toggle.
Result:
See the Pen navbar by Vishvesh Shivam (@iamvishveshs) on CodePen.
Then edit, tweak, and watch the code adapt with you.
Final Thoughts: Should You Start Vibe Coding?
Absolutely — but go in with the right expectations.
AI is not perfect. It makes mistakes. But if you:
- Think clearly
- Give it precise prompts
- Understand what it's generating
you’ll become 10 times more productive.
Vibe coding isn’t about cheating the process — it’s about rethinking it. It gives you superpowers — but you still have to be the hero.
