What is Vibe Coding?
Vibe coding is the art of building software by tapping into a creative flow state, where you focus on your vision and let AI tools handle the heavy lifting. It’s not about ignoring code or bypassing best practices—it’s about using AI to accelerate development, squash bugs, and keep your momentum going. Imagine coding without getting stuck on Stack Overflow for hours or wrestling with obscure documentation. That’s the vibe!
As George, a vibe coding enthusiast, puts it: “Vibe coding is about getting in a flow state easily and maintaining it without breaking to debug or dig through docs. You vibe with the product you’re building.”
Whether you're a newbie coder or a seasoned developer, vibe coding lets you prototype Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) fast, test ideas, and ship products to production with minimal friction.
Why Vibe Coding is a Game-Changer
Vibe coding is taking the software engineering world by storm, and for good reason. Here’s why it’s a must-learn skill:
Speed Up Development: Build apps in hours, not days. In the transcript, Isan and George built a swipeable e-commerce app in just an hour using vibe coding techniques.
Stay in the Zone: Avoid interruptions from debugging or searching for solutions. AI tools like Cursor and GitHub Copilot suggest code, fix errors, and keep you focused.
Prototype Like a Pro: Test ideas quickly by deploying MVPs with tools like Vercel, which lets you ship apps to the internet with a single command.
Accessible for All Levels: Whether you’re learning to code or leading a dev team, vibe coding lowers the barrier to creating functional, polished apps.
Fun and Creative: It’s called vibe coding for a reason—coding becomes an intuitive, enjoyable process where you bring your vision to life.
Tools to Start Vibe Coding
To vibe code like a pro, you’ll need the right tools to enhance your flow. Here are the essentials recommended by George and Isan:
Cursor: An AI-powered IDE that suggests code, debugs errors, and streamlines your workflow. It’s a favorite for vibe coders, with a free tier and affordable subscriptions (~$15-$20/month).
GitHub Copilot: If you’re using VS Code, Copilot’s AI suggestions are perfect for real-time coding assistance.
Claude or ChatGPT: These AI models help generate code snippets, explain concepts, or even create entire components when you’re stuck.
Vercel: A one-line deployment platform to take your app from prototype to production in seconds. Share your work with the world effortlessly.
Figma (Optional): For designing UI mockups to guide your vibe coding projects, especially for hackathons.
How to Get Started with Vibe Coding
Ready to jump into vibe coding? Follow these steps to start building apps with flow and flair:
Set the Foundation: Begin with a clear vision. Create a basic structure (e.g., a centered div with a background color) to give the AI context. As George says, “Get your vision on paper first, then let the AI vibe with it.”
Choose Your Tools: Install Cursor or VS Code with Copilot, and sign up for Vercel for easy deployment. Experiment with Claude or ChatGPT for code generation.
Start Small: Try building a simple app, like a to-do list or a swipeable card interface. Focus on one feature at a time (e.g., adding images, then swiping, then a cart).
Embrace AI Suggestions: Let AI tools suggest code, but review their output. Avoid over-relying on shortcuts like absolute positioning, which can make your app less responsive.
Deploy and Iterate: Use Vercel to deploy your app and share it with friends or hackathon judges. Iterate based on feedback to polish your UI and UX.
Tips for Vibe Coding Success
George shared three golden tips for mastering vibe coding, and we’ve distilled them for you:
Think Like a Product Manager: Shift to a product-focused mindset. Explain your vision clearly, as if guiding a junior developer. Build the first 30% manually to set the stage, then let AI fill in the blanks.
Avoid Shortcuts in Production: For hackathons, quick fixes like absolute positioning are fine, but for real apps, use proper CSS (e.g., flexbox) to ensure responsiveness. Tell AI to “use flexbox” or “make it responsive” for better results.
Have Fun and Experiment: Vibe coding is about enjoying the process. Use AI as a creative palette—experiment, tweak, and let your ideas shine. If AI gets stuck, tweak the prompt or adjust the code yourself.