Vibe coded
Programming or designing something intuitively, experimentally, focusing on the overall feel or aesthetic.
Vibe coding means building or designing something in a creative and experimental way. Instead of following strict rules, the focus is on the overall feeling or look you want to achieve.
For example, someone might 'vibe code' a custom picture frame. They're not just programming it to show pictures. They're trying to make it feel a certain way, maybe to enhance their morning routine with a specific aesthetic, using AI to help achieve that mood.
Vibe coding describes an approach to development or design that prioritizes intuitive, experimental, and less rigidly structured methods. It emphasizes achieving a desired aesthetic, mood, or overall user experience over strict adherence to predefined specifications or traditional engineering paradigms.
This can manifest in using AI tools to generate or refine designs based on abstract prompts, or in rapid prototyping where the 'feel' of the output guides further iteration. The tradeoff is potential unpredictability and difficulty in scaling or formalizing the process.
The term 'vibe coded' is appearing as AI models become more capable of generating code and creative outputs. This reflects a shift towards AI assisting in development based on desired outcomes or aesthetics, rather than just explicit instructions, as seen in projects ranging from code refinement to custom hardware.
- pwasm 0.2a0Anthropic · Simon Willison ·
- Disrupting EvilTokens: Taking down an AI-powered cybercrime platformMicrosoft · Microsoft Source ·
- .blend URL ViewerOpenAI · Simon Willison ·
- AI:AM Highlights: Recursive Self-Improvement, Rushed and Vibe-Coded?OpenAI · The Cognitive Revolution ·
- Vibe coding a custom e-ink picture frame powered by Gemini 3.6 Flash and Nano BananaGoogle · Google on YouTube ·
- Anthropic Claude
- Anthropic's AI is refining complex code, suggesting a move towards more intuitive code generation.
- Google Gemini
- Google Gemini is powering custom projects like an e-ink picture frame, indicating use in creative, outcome-focused development.
- Microsoft Copilot
- Microsoft Copilot is involved in discussions about AI assisting in complex tasks, which could extend to code generation based on desired results.
- OpenAI ChatGPT
- OpenAI's ChatGPT is generating 3D models and being discussed in the context of AI development that might be 'vibe coded', implying a focus on the feel or outcome of the generated content.
- Intuitive programming
- This focuses on making code easier for humans to understa
- Experimental design
- This is a broader term for testing different approaches, wh
- Rapid prototyping
- This is about quickly building functional models, whereas vib
The term 'vibe coding' appears to have emerged from online communities and discussions around creative technology and AI, describing a more intuitive and aesthetic-driven approach to development.
Try using an AI image generator like DALL-E 3 or Midjourney. Enter a prompt describing a specific mood or aesthetic, such as 'a cozy, dimly lit library with a hint of magic' or 'a futuristic cityscape at sunset with a cyberpunk feel'. See how the AI interprets and generates images that capture that vibe.
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Questions people ask
- Is 'vibe coding' a formal programming technique?
- No, 'vibe coding' is not a formal programming technique. It's a colloquial term describing an intuitive, aesthetic-focused approach to creating with AI or other tools.
- How is 'vibe coding' different from prompt engineering?
- Prompt engineering is the practice of crafting effective prompts for AI models. 'Vibe coding' is a broader concept that can include prompt engineering as a method to achieve a desired aesthetic or feeling in the output.
First seen on Subvolts Aug 10, 2026. Updated Oct 8, 2026. Written by an AI model from the items above and reviewed against them weekly; report an error.