What Is Vibe Coding?

The term came from a tweet by Andrej Karpathy in early 2025. It caught on because it captures something real: you can now build software by communicating intent rather than writing syntax.

What You Can Actually Build

Realistic for beginners:

• Landing pages
• Simple web applications
• Internal tools
• Prototypes and MVPs
• Dashboards
• Basic SaaS products

Requires more skill:

• Complex multi-user applications
• Payment processing
• Real-time features
• Mobile apps
• High-traffic systems

Not recommended for beginners:

• Security-critical applications
• Healthcare or financial systems
• Anything where bugs cause significant harm

Start simple. Build skills. Increase complexity gradually.

Getting Started

Step 1: Choose Your Tool

For complete beginners, start with Lovable:

1. Go to lovable.dev
2. Create an account
3. Click “New Project”
4. Describe what you want to build

Example prompt:

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Create a simple task management app with:
- A list of tasks
- Ability to add new tasks
- Mark tasks as complete
- Delete tasks
- Clean, modern design

Lovable generates a working application in about 60 seconds.

Step 2: Iterate on Your Idea

The first generation is rarely perfect. Refine it:

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Make the design more minimal - white background,
simple borders, no shadows.

Add a way to set due dates for tasks.

The complete button should be a checkbox, not a button.

Each prompt modifies your application. Think of it as a conversation.

Step 3: Understand What You Built

Before deploying anything:

1. Click through every feature
2. Try to break things (enter weird input, click rapidly)
3. Check what happens with empty states
4. Look at error messages

If something seems wrong, describe the issue and ask for fixes.

Essential Concepts

The Prompt Is Everything

Good prompts produce good code. Bad prompts produce confusion.

Bad prompt:

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Make it better

Good prompt:

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The login form should:
- Validate email format before submission
- Require password minimum 8 characters
- Show inline error messages under invalid fields
- Disable submit button while processing

Be specific. Describe behavior, not vague goals.

Context Matters

AI tools have limited memory. In longer sessions:

• They forget earlier decisions
• They may contradict previous work
• They lose track of your overall vision

Solution: Keep a document of your key decisions. Reference it in prompts:

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Remember: We're using Supabase for the database,
the design is minimal/white, and all forms require
validation. With that context, add a contact form.

You’re Responsible for Security

AI generates working code, not secure code. As a beginner, you must:

1. Never hardcode secrets — Use environment variables
2. Don’t trust user input — Always validate
3. Get a security review — Before real users access your app
4. Start with low-risk projects — Not payments, not health data

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake 1: Deploying Immediately

Just because it works doesn’t mean it’s ready. Test thoroughly. Get feedback. Fix issues.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Error Messages

When AI says something failed, read the error. It usually explains what went wrong. Copy the error back to the AI for help fixing it.

Mistake 3: Too Many Features at Once

Start with one feature. Make it work. Then add another. Building everything at once creates confusion and bugs.

Mistake 4: No Version Control

Even with vibe coding, use Git. Lovable and Bolt have version history built-in. Learn to use it.

Mistake 5: Assuming AI Is Always Right

AI makes mistakes. It suggests insecure patterns. It misunderstands requirements. Your job is to verify, not to blindly trust.

Moving Beyond Beginner Tools

Once you’ve built a few projects with Lovable or Bolt, consider leveling up:

Learn Basic Coding Concepts

You don’t need to be an expert, but understanding helps:

• Variables and data types
• Functions and how they work
• Basic database concepts
• HTTP and APIs

Free resources: freeCodeCamp, The Odin Project, Codecademy

Try Cursor

Cursor is VS Code with AI built in. It’s more powerful but requires understanding file structure:

1. Download from cursor.sh
2. Open a project
3. Use Chat (Cmd+K) to ask questions
4. Use Composer for changes

Eventually: Claude Code

For complex projects, Claude Code operates on your entire codebase. It’s the most powerful option but requires comfort with terminals and project structure.

Realistic Expectations

What vibe coding is good at:

• Generating working first versions quickly
• Creating standard features (auth, CRUD, forms)
• Iterating on feedback
• Building MVPs for validation

What vibe coding struggles with:

• Novel or unusual requirements
• Complex business logic
• Performance optimization
• Security (always)

What vibe coding can’t do:

• Replace understanding what you’re building
• Guarantee secure code
• Fix fundamental design problems
• Make decisions about what to build

You still need product thinking. The AI is a tool, not a cofounder.

FAQ

Conclusion