Vibe coding is an innovative approach to software development that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to transform natural language prompts into functional code. Introduced by Andrej Karpathy in 2025, this method allows users to describe their software ideas in plain language, enabling AI to generate, refine, and iterate the code. By lowering the technical barriers to entry, vibe coding makes programming accessible to individuals with minimal experience while accelerating development cycles and fostering creativity. It emphasizes experimentation and collaboration between humans and AI, making it a powerful tool for both novice and experienced developers.
Vibe coding (also vibecoding) is an AI-dependent programming technique where a person describes a problem in a few sentences as a prompt to a large language model (LLM) tuned for coding. The LLM generates software, shifting the programmer's role from manual coding to guiding, testing, and refining the AI-generated source code. Vibe coding is claimed by its advocates to allow even amateur programmers to produce software without the extensive training and skills required for software engineering. The term was introduced by Andrej Karpathy in February 2025 and listed in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary the following month as a "slang & trending" noun.
Key aspects of vibe coding include:
Vibe coding aims to make programming not just a technical task, but a fulfilling and enjoyable experience that enhances both individual and team performance.