Vibe Coding

What is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding is a term coined by computer scientist Andrej Karpathy in February 2025 to describe a new approach to programming that leverages large language models (LLMs) for code generation.

In this method, a programmer provides a natural language description of a problem, and the AI generates the corresponding code. This shifts the programmer's role from writing code manually to guiding, testing, and refining AI-generated code.

Karpathy described this approach as: "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."

Vibe coding is particularly suited for low-stakes projects, such as prototypes or personal tools, where the emphasis is on rapid development rather than code quality or maintainability. However, experts caution against using this approach for production-level software due to potential issues with code reliability and security.

It's important to distinguish vibe coding from responsible AI-assisted programming. While vibe coding involves minimal review of AI-generated code, responsible AI-assisted programming requires thorough testing and understanding of the code to ensure its correctness and maintainability.

For a more in-depth discussion on vibe coding, you might find this video helpful:

What is Vibe Coding, should you Learn It? (YouTube)