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What is Vibe Coding? How AI is Changing the Way Apps are Made

·7 min read
An illustration of a person vibe coding with a VR headset on

Software development is undergoing a radical shift. Not long ago, building an app meant hammering out every line of code by hand. Today, a new approach called vibe coding promises to let you create software by simply describing your idea and letting AI do the heavy lifting. It’s part of a growing trend of AI-powered no-code/low-code tools that aim to make app building accessible to everyone. So, what exactly is vibe coding, and how does it fit into this landscape? Let’s break it down in plain English, and explore two popular AI app builders – Lovable and Bolt – that are bringing vibe coding to life. We’ll also touch on where this trend is headed (and even a newcomer called Chariot) in today’s fast-evolving world of AI-assisted development.

Understanding Vibe Coding in Plain English

At its core, vibe coding is about building software by describing the “vibe” of what you want, rather than writing the code yourself. In practice, that means you tell an AI what you’re trying to build or fix in natural language, and the AI generates the code for you. Your role shifts from writing syntax to guiding and refining the AI’s output – almost like being a project manager for an AI programmer. Essentially, if you can explain your idea, you can potentially code it.

The term “vibe coding” was popularized in early 2025 by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy, who demonstrated a workflow where he would “just see stuff, say stuff, run stuff, and copy-paste stuff” to build a web app. Instead of carefully crafting code, he would ask the AI to make changes or fix errors by simply pasting in error messages. He admits it felt more like embracing the vibes than traditional coding – hence the name.

How is this different from normal coding with AI? It comes down to how much you rely on the AI. With typical AI-assisted coding (like GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT), a developer might get suggestions or have the AI generate code, but then review and tweak that code. Vibe coding, in its pure form, means not even reading the code – you trust the AI’s output and only interact with the software through prompts and results. It’s an extreme end of the AI-assisted development spectrum. In other words, vibe coding blurs the line between no-code tools and coding, because you’re essentially building an application by having a conversation.

Why Vibe Coding Matters for No-Code/Low-Code Developers

The rise of vibe coding is closely tied to the no-code/low-code movement. For years, entrepreneurs and “citizen developers” have dreamed of building apps through visual tools or simple configuration. Vibe coding is like the next evolution of that dream. Instead of dragging and dropping elements, you describe your app in everyday language and let AI construct it.

Think of vibe coding as an extension of the low-code philosophy: it allows even non-programmers to create software, but now with even less manual work. You don’t need to learn a specific app builder interface extensively; you just tell the AI what you want.

This approach is incredibly relevant today because of advances in AI. Large Language Models (LLMs) have become surprisingly good at generating code from descriptions. For example, if you say “I need a simple todo list app with a title, list of tasks, and a checkbox to mark them done”, a vibe coding tool could generate the UI and logic for a basic to-do app in seconds.

Of course, there are caveats. Seasoned developers point out that completely trusting AI code can lead to issues with code quality, bugs, or maintainability. If you never look under the hood, you might end up with messy or inefficient code. So while vibe coding makes development faster and more accessible, it’s generally best for prototypes, hobby projects, or early-stage ideas. For production systems, developers still need to review and polish the AI-generated code.

Lovable.dev – Building Apps by Vibe

One of the most talked-about platforms embracing vibe coding is Lovable (lovable.dev). Lovable markets itself as “your superhuman full stack engineer” and promises to go from idea to app in seconds. The vibe coding philosophy is at the heart of Lovable’s user experience. Instead of writing code, you go through a simple flow:

  1. Describe what you want – Type out what kind of app or feature you’re trying to build.
  2. Let the AI build the first version – Lovable generates your app’s initial version.
  3. Refine by prompting changes – Ask for updates or new features in plain text.
  4. Publish or export – Publish the app live or sync the code to GitHub.

Lovable emphasizes building beautiful design into every idea you bring to life. If something breaks, the AI will attempt to fix it automatically. Notably, you own the code it generates, meaning you can export and edit it as needed.

Over 500,000 founders are already building with Lovable, and the platform continues to evolve. For finer tweaks, Lovable offers a “Select & Edit” feature, letting users click on elements in the preview and describe changes.

The free plan limits how many AI prompts you can use, but for fast prototyping, Lovable shines with its intuitive interface and quick results.

Bolt.new – A Fast-Track AI App Builder for Web and Mobile

Another key player is Bolt (bolt.new). Bolt’s interface prompts you to type what you want to build, then shows you a live, working version of the app instantly. You can interact with it in real time and refine it through conversational prompts.

Bolt was created by the team behind StackBlitz and supports a fast, code-aware environment. It even allows for real-time error correction, and instead of rewriting the whole app for every change, it updates just the necessary parts using diffs.

A standout feature is Figma integration – you can import a design and turn it into code. Bolt also supports mobile app creation using Expo, allowing you to prompt it for apps that run on both iOS and Android.

You can view and edit the generated code if desired, making Bolt appealing to semi-technical users who want that flexibility. It also uses a token system for free usage, which often stretches further than message-based models.

The Bigger Picture and Emerging Players

Vibe coding is part of a larger trend of AI app builders. Tools like Google’s Firebase Studio, open-source GPT-Engineer, and new startups are entering the field.

Chariot, for example, applies the same vibe coding philosophy to building websites for small businesses. The tagline on their site – “If you can chat, you can build a website” – perfectly sums it up.

These tools lower the barrier to creating software. A solo entrepreneur can now prototype an app over a weekend by chatting with an AI. Developers, meanwhile, can offload boilerplate and focus on complex logic – using vibe coding as a productivity boost rather than a replacement.

Embracing the Vibe: Conclusion

Vibe coding takes no-code/low-code to the next level. Platforms like Lovable.dev and Bolt.new make app creation conversational and fast. Lovable leans into polished UI and ease of use, while Bolt offers speed, flexibility, and mobile support.

For entrepreneurs and developers alike, these tools offer a new way to build faster, test ideas more easily, and collaborate with AI. While still maturing, vibe coding represents a major shift in how we build software – one prompt at a time.