Vibecoding is a way of building software where you describe what you want in plain language and an AI assistant writes most of the code. Used well, it saves a huge amount of time. Used badly, it produces applications nobody understands any more.
Key takeaways
- AI speeds up writing, not thinking: breaking the problem down is still your job.
- Every change must stay reviewable: small steps, a diff you understand before accepting it.
- Tests matter more, not less: they check that generated code does what you think it does.
- Secrets, access rights and personal data remain your responsibility.
A method that works
Start by describing the expected result and the constraints (language, framework, project style). Ask for a plan before code. Move forward in small, verifiable steps and run the application at every step rather than at the end.
Limits to keep in mind
An assistant can invent a function that doesn’t exist, reproduce a classic vulnerability or confidently solve the wrong problem. The closer the code is to security, payments or sensitive data, the stricter the human review must be.
Practical tip
Keep one simple rule: only ship code you could explain to a colleague. Vibecoding is an accelerator, not an autopilot.
