When Code Feels Like Magic
Working with AI tools can feel like you’ve unlocked a new superpower. You type a loose prompt, your IDE spits out code, and suddenly something works. It’s fast, exciting, and honestly, it’s tempting to ship it and move on. But is that always the right move?
How Vibe Coding Took Over
Vibe coding is when you write code by instinct, with minimal planning, testing, or structure. It’s all about speed, feel, and a “does it work right now?” mentality. This approach can be effective for some projects, but not at the cost of clarity, good design, or long-term stability.
Think of it like jamming on a guitar: great for finding a tune, not great for recording a clean, final track.
The term itself was coined by Andrej Karpathy in early 2025, describing a process where you “see things, say things, run things, and copy-paste things, and it mostly works.” It’s less about understanding every detail and more about riding the “vibe” of the AI’s suggestions; embracing experimentation and speed over precision and deep comprehension. Vibe coding makes software creation more accessible, even to those without deep programming experience, and it’s especially useful for quick projects or when exploring new ideas.
It works, but should you ship it?
The Tradeoffs of Vibe Coding
Where Speed Wins:
There are moments when vibe coding is exactly what you need:
- Rapid prototyping
- Testing APIs or models
- Exploring product concepts or interfaces
- Learning a new language or framework
For example, a backend developer I know decided to learn Python and Django. He was more of a scripter than a traditional programmer, but vibe coding helped him quickly build a working prototype while picking up new skills. The speed and freedom made the learning process energizing and productive.
The Hidden Costs
But when vibe code goes unchecked, problems start to stack up:
- Fragile connections between services
- Missing tests and inconsistent error handling
- Hidden technical debt that slows future work
- Code that’s hard for others to maintain or trust
- AI systems that break in production because edge cases weren’t considered
Especially in AI, where inference quality, latency, and observability all matter, vibe code starts to crack under pressure.
Knowing When to Shift Gears
If your code touches customers, other teams, or money, it’s time to stop vibing and start engineering.
The vibe code you wrote in a jam session can absolutely become the foundation but only after it’s refactored, tested, and understood.
Finding Your Rhythm
AI tools make it easier than ever to move fast, but they also make it easier to overlook the details that matter in the long run. Vibe coding is a powerful tool for exploration and learning, but it’s not a strategy for building lasting value.
Use vibe coding to generate insights and spark innovation. When it’s time to deliver real outcomes, slow down and engineer your way to stability and success.
So, how will you balance speed and stability in your next project?
Vibe your way to insights. Engineer your way to business value and outcomes.
