What Vibe Coding Actually Is
Vibe coding is how developers build software in 2025. You describe what you want in natural language. AI generates working code. You review and refine it. Then ship it.
This is not no-code. No-code locks you into templates and platforms. Vibe coding produces real, custom code—TypeScript, React, Python, whatever you need—that you own and control. It's just created exponentially faster.
I write prompts. AI writes code. I review for logic errors and edge cases. We iterate instantly. Then we deploy production-ready software.
The First Time I Saw It Work
Last year, a client needed Stripe integration with subscription management. I'd done it before—it takes about two days if you're careful. Reading docs, handling webhooks, testing edge cases, error recovery.
I described the requirements to Claude: "Integrate Stripe checkout with monthly and annual subscription plans, handle webhooks for successful payments and cancellations, manage subscription status in the database."
Two hours later, it was done. Complete implementation. Webhook handlers. Database updates. Error handling. I reviewed the code, tested it, pushed to production. The client was thrilled.
That's when it clicked. This wasn't a productivity boost. This was a complete shift in how software gets built.
How It Actually Works
Here's my daily workflow now:
1. Describe Intent Clearly
Be specific about requirements. Not implementation. "Build user authentication with email verification and password reset" tells the AI what to accomplish, not how to code it.
Bad prompt: "Make a dashboard" (too vague)
Bad prompt: "Use React Table library with custom hooks to render..." (too prescriptive)
2. AI Generates Implementation
The AI handles boilerplate, error handling, edge cases, security best practices. It doesn't get tired. It doesn't cut corners at 5 PM on Friday.
It also makes mistakes. That's where you come in.
3. Human Review and Refinement
This is the critical step most people skip. I read every line of generated code. I check:
- Does this handle the edge case where users have special characters in emails?
- What happens if the API times out?
- Is this database query optimized for 10,000+ records?
- Does this create a security vulnerability?
When I find issues, I tell the AI: "Add rate limiting to prevent abuse" or "Optimize this query with pagination." It adjusts instantly.
4. Ship Production Code
No prototypes. No "we'll clean this up later." Production-ready code from day one. Because AI doesn't accumulate technical debt the way exhausted humans do.
What Makes a Good Vibe Coder
Here's what separates good vibe coders from people just copy-pasting AI output:
Domain Knowledge
You need to know what good software looks like. What makes a secure authentication flow? When should you use a database transaction? How do you handle race conditions?
AI can implement these things. But you need to know when to ask for them.
Clear Communication
Vague prompts get vague code. "Build a login" gives you basic auth. "Build JWT-based authentication with email verification, password reset, session management, and rate limiting" gives you production-ready auth.
The clearer you communicate, the better the code.
Code Literacy
You must read and understand the generated code. If you can't spot bugs, security issues, or performance problems, vibe coding is dangerous.
This is why vibe coding doesn't replace developers. It makes good developers unstoppable.
System Thinking
How do components interact? What are the dependencies? What breaks if this service goes down? What's the data flow?
AI generates individual pieces. You architect the whole system.
Quality Judgment
When is AI output good enough? When does it need refinement? When should you scrap it and try a different approach?
This comes from experience. Not from typing faster.
Common Mistakes I See
Using AI output without review
I've seen developers ship AI-generated code they don't understand. It breaks in production. They can't fix it. They blame AI.
Fix: Read every line. Understand what it does. Test edge cases. If you don't understand it, ask AI to explain or rewrite it more clearly.
Over-specifying implementation
"Use React useState for the counter, create a handleClick function, map over the array with .map()..." You're micromanaging. Let AI handle implementation.
Fix: Describe what you want, not how to code it. Focus on requirements and constraints.
Treating it like Google
Vibe coding isn't about asking "How do I implement X?" and copy-pasting answers. It's about describing complete features and getting working implementations.
Fix: Think in features, not functions. "Build complete email verification" not "How do I send an email in Node.js?"
Why This Changes Everything
I'm 32. I've been coding since I was 14. I'm out-building developers with 20+ years of experience right now.
Not because I'm better. Because I adapted faster.
Traditional coding: Think → Code → Debug → Test → Refactor (hours to days per feature)
Vibe coding: Think → Describe → Review → Ship (minutes to hours per feature)
The bottleneck shifted from typing speed to clarity of thought. From syntax mastery to system design.
Developers who can clearly articulate requirements and review code effectively are outpacing those who still write everything line by line.
The Hard Truth
By 2026, vibe coding will be standard. Maybe sooner.
Developers resisting this are like graphic designers who refused to learn Photoshop in 2000. Technically skilled but economically obsolete. Companies won't pay traditional rates for work that vibe coders do 10x faster.
This isn't doom and gloom. It's reality. Adapt or get left behind.
The good news? If you're reading this, you're early. Most developers haven't figured this out yet. You have time to build the skills that matter: clear communication, code review, system architecture, quality judgment.
Getting Started
Here's how I'd start if I were learning vibe coding today:
- Pick a small feature you've built before. Authentication, CRUD operations, API integration—something familiar.
- Describe it to Claude or GPT-4 in natural language. Be specific about requirements.
- Review the generated code line by line. Understand what it does.
- Test it. Find edge cases. Ask AI to handle them.
- Compare the time to your previous implementation.
Start small. Build confidence. Scale up to bigger features.
Within weeks, you'll be shipping faster than you ever have. Within months, you'll wonder how you ever coded any other way.
The Bottom Line
Vibe coding isn't magic. It's a methodology. AI generates. Humans architect and review. Together, we build software faster than either could alone.
This is the future. The only question is whether you'll be early or late.