Anyone Can Build Apps with AI Vibe Coding

The AI boom, ignited by ChatGPT's arrival in late 2022, has fundamentally reshaped how we interact with technology. It's also ushering in a new era for software development: "vibe coding". This approach allows individuals, even those without programming experience, to generate functional code simply by describing their requirements in natural language.

What is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding transforms software creation into a conversational process. Instead of meticulously writing lines of code, developers articulate their ideas to an AI model using everyday language. For instance, you might instruct the AI, "Build a simple e-commerce site selling handcrafted jewellery, with product pages, a shopping cart, and a checkout process." The AI then interprets this intent and generates the underlying code, user interface, and logical framework.

This method, popularised by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy in early 2025, encourages developers to "fully give in to the vibes" and focus on the desired outcome rather than the intricate details of implementation. The term quickly gained traction, with Collins Dictionary even naming "vibe coding" its Word of the Year, highlighting its rapid adoption across developer communities. Indeed, data from Y Combinator's Winter 2025 batch revealed that roughly 25% of their incubated startups had codebases predominantly built by AI, underscoring this significant shift.

How it Works in Practice

The process is inherently iterative. You describe your vision, the AI produces initial code, and you then test, refine, and provide further prompts to make adjustments. This continuous feedback loop allows for rapid prototyping and agile development. While it removes the need for syntax mastery, it doesn't entirely negate the need for basic technical understanding. Users still need to know how to manage generated code, such as copying it into an editor, saving it as a specific file type (e.g., .html or .py), and running it.

Platforms like Bolt and Replit streamline this by integrating the AI directly into an online development environment. Here, the AI chat interface generates the entire project within the editor, sets up the structure, and allows users to request changes in plain language. This means you can get a working site published with a free URL, often without ever directly interacting with raw code.

The Advantages and Limitations

Vibe coding offers considerable advantages, particularly for accelerating prototyping and lowering barriers to entry. It empowers non-experts to build applications they might never have attempted with traditional programming, such as a recipe organiser, a simple task manager, or a personal blog. For experienced developers, it acts as a powerful multiplier, quickly scaffolding entire applications, generating tests, or translating code between languages, freeing them from repetitive tasks. This aligns with the concept of Future Work: Human-AI Skill Fusion, where AI enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them entirely.

However, it's not without its drawbacks. As Sam Dhar, former engineering leader at Adobe and Amazon Alexa, notes, "Only someone who has that knowledge and experience can truly effectively use AI to be able to build things that are production-ready." The AI, while capable of generating plausible code, often produces outputs that may contain subtle bugs, performance issues, or security vulnerabilities. Ignoring these could lead to serious problems, especially in applications handling sensitive user data or requiring robust security. This challenge is similar to the broader issue of AI Slop: Low-Quality Research Choking AI Progress in other domains.

Vibe-coded projects also risk issues with maintainability and code quality. The AI might combine inconsistent patterns or generate code that, though technically correct, is hard for humans to read and modify later. Reliance on Large Language Models (LLMs) also means the possibility of "hallucinated" code, much like chatbots can generate incorrect information. While this might be manageable for small, personal projects, it becomes a significant concern for critical systems. As a result, vibe coding is best suited for prototypes, experiments, and non-critical tools, rather than production-grade systems requiring long-term stability and stringent security.

Vibe Coding vs. Traditional Programming vs. No-Code

To properly understand vibe coding, it's helpful to distinguish it from other development paradigms:

• Traditional Programming: Requires deep understanding of syntax, logic, and system architecture. Developers write every line of code, managing debugging, performance, and security.
• No-Code Tools: Platforms like Webflow or Notion allow users to build software through visual interfaces, typically by dragging and dropping components. They're excellent for specific use cases but limit users to the platform's predefined templates and structures.
• Vibe Coding: Focuses on the desired outcome, with the AI handling the implementation based on natural language descriptions. It sits somewhere between traditional programming and no-code, offering more flexibility than no-code but less granular control than traditional programming. Examples include Lovable, Google AI Studio.

The Future of Development

While vibe coding makes software creation accessible to a broader audience, it doesn't diminish the need for skilled developers. Instead, it redefines their role. Experienced professionals are crucial for evaluating AI-generated code, identifying potential issues, and ensuring the quality, security, and maintainability of applications. For instance, an expert would be vital in scenarios where a chatbot accidentally recommended dangerous items, as seen in the Access Restored by OpenAI for Teddy Bear That Recommended Knives and Drugs incident.

The strongest development teams are likely to adopt a hybrid approach. Vibe coding can be used for rapid prototyping, exploring ideas, and handling repetitive tasks, while traditional human-led development and pair programming remain essential for complex logic, critical changes, and knowledge transfer. This blend allows for both speed and robustness, leveraging AI's generative power while maintaining human oversight and accountability.

The rise of vibe coding is undeniably a transformative force, democratising software creation and accelerating development cycles. However, recognising its strengths and limitations, and integrating it thoughtfully into existing workflows, will be key to harnessing its full potential responsibly.