What is Vibe Coding?
Vibe coding is a term that's been gaining traction, especially among indie hackers and those who are looking to quickly prototype and build applications. But what exactly does it mean?
The following is Andrej Karpathy's definition, who coined the term "vibe coding":
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 with Sonnet) are getting too good. Also I just talk to Composer with SuperWhisper so I barely even touch the keyboard.
I ask for the dumbest things like "decrease the padding on the sidebar by half" because I'm too lazy to find it. I "Accept All" always, I don't read the diffs anymore. When I get error messages I just copy paste them in with no comment, usually that fixes it.
The code grows beyond my usual comprehension, I'd have to really read through it for a while. Sometimes the LLMs can't fix a bug so I just work around it or ask for random changes until it goes away. It's not too bad for throwaway weekend projects, but still quite amusing.
I'm building a project or webapp, but it's not really coding - I just see stuff, say stuff, run stuff, and copy paste stuff, and it mostly works.
The Pros of Vibe Coding
- Speed: Quickly validate ideas and get a minimum viable product (MVP) to users.
- Low Barrier to Entry: Enables non-developers or those with limited coding skills to build applications.
- Iterative Development: Facilitates rapid feedback loops and adjustments based on user reactions.
The Challenges of Vibe Coding
While vibe coding is great for getting started, it often comes with its own set of challenges, especially as the project grows or when it's time to launch officially:
- Hidden Bugs: Code generated quickly or by AI might contain subtle bugs or miss edge cases.
- Security Vulnerabilities: Without a strong understanding of security best practices, vibe-coded apps can be susceptible to attacks.
- Scalability Issues: Solutions that work for a prototype might not scale well for a larger user base.
- Maintainability: Code developed without a clear structure can become difficult to maintain and update over time.
This is where services like VibeSecurely come in. We help bridge the gap between a vibe-coded prototype and a production-ready application, ensuring your app is robust, secure, and ready for your users.