Guide · March 25, 2026 · 4 min read
What is vibe coding? Where it came from and how it works
Vibe coding means building software by describing it to an AI. Where the term comes from, how it works, who it suits, which tools exist and where it stops.
Updated September 25, 2026
Vibe coding means building software by describing what you want in plain language instead of writing the code yourself. You tell an AI what to build, for example “a website for my coffee shop with the menu, opening hours and a contact form”, and the AI writes working code. Collins Dictionary named “vibe coding” its word of the year 2025.
The term comes from AI researcher Andrej Karpathy, who wrote in a post on X in February 2025:
“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.”
In the same post he called it “not too bad for throwaway weekend projects”. The name stuck anyway, because it described a real change: for simpler software, such as a website, you no longer have to write the code yourself.
How does vibe coding work?
In classic programming you write every line yourself. In vibe coding you describe the result and an AI turns your description into code. A typical session looks like this:
- You describe what you want: “A portfolio website with a project gallery and a contact form.”
- The AI writes the code, for example React, TypeScript and Tailwind CSS, depending on the tool.
- You look at a live preview and ask for changes: “Show the gallery in three columns instead of two.”
- When you are happy, you publish the result or download the code.
Who is vibe coding for?
Vibe coding is not only for people who cannot code. Developers use it to skip routine work and try ideas quickly. Designers use it to turn ideas into working pages. Business owners use it to get a website without hiring someone for every change.
- Business owners: a website for your business, written from your description.
- Developers: routine pages and prototypes in less time, with the code still in your hands.
- Designers: working pages to test an idea, not only pictures of it.
- Freelancers: faster first drafts for clients, and more time for content and details.
- Students: a portfolio or a class project without setting up a development environment.
Vibe coding tools
The tools differ mainly in what they build:
| Tool | What it is | Fits best for |
|---|---|---|
| frascati | AI website builder | Websites for small businesses |
| Lovable | AI app builder | Full-stack web apps, with Supabase and GitHub |
| Bolt.new | In-browser builder by StackBlitz | Projects you build and run in the browser |
| v0 | Generator by Vercel | React UI and apps |
| Cursor | AI code editor based on VS Code | Working in your own code |
| Replit | Cloud development environment | Writing, running and learning code |
Most of these tools charge a monthly fee, and many offer a free version with limits. Prices change often, so check each tool's website. frascati starts at $12 a month, and every plan starts with a free 3-day trial.
Vibe coding vs traditional coding vs no-code
| Hand coding | No-code builders | Vibe coding | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you build | You write the code | You arrange blocks in an editor | You describe it in words |
| What you need | Programming skills | Time to learn the editor | A clear idea of what you want |
| The result | Code you control | Usually a site on the builder's platform | Code the tool writes for you |
| Best for | Anything, given time and skill | Sites within the builder's features | Websites and prototypes |
| Cost | Your time, or a project fee | A monthly plan | A monthly plan, often with credits |
Common vibe coding mistakes
- Being too vague: “Make me a website” gives worse results than “A website for my bakery in Basel with our bread, opening hours and a contact form”.
- Not iterating: the first result is a starting point. The next few rounds of changes are where it gets good.
- Not checking the facts: AI writes convincing text. Read every sentence about your business before you publish.
- Overloading the first prompt: start with the essentials, then add detail step by step: first the pages, then the contact form, then the wording.
- Expecting an app from a website builder: logins and databases need a tool made for apps.
The future of vibe coding
Predictions in this field age quickly, so we will stick to what we can see. Models keep getting better at writing code. The questions that matter stay human: what should the site say, is it true, and does it help the visitor?
For business websites, the gap between having an idea and having a site online is now small. You still need the facts about your business and the judgement to check the result.
- Is vibe coding real programming?
- The result is real code, for example React, TypeScript and Tailwind CSS. What differs is how it is made: by describing instead of typing. A developer can read and change the code like any other.
- Will vibe coding replace developers?
- No. It changes what developers spend their time on: less routine, more architecture, review and complex logic. Someone still has to judge whether the software is right.
- Can vibe coding handle complex applications?
- Websites and simple tools, yes. Complex backends, databases, payments and security-critical logic still need experienced developers, even when AI helps them.
- How much does vibe coding cost?
- Most tools charge a monthly fee, and many offer a free version with limits. frascati starts at $12 a month, and every plan starts with a free 3-day trial with 20 credits. Hiring a designer or an agency usually means a project fee, often several thousand dollars, plus changes by the hour.