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Dulaj Thiwanka
Dulaj Thiwanka

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Vibe Coding: Shipping Code While the Brain Is Still Happy

#ai #vibecoding #coding #webdev

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You know that moment when everything clicks?

The editor feels fast.
The idea is clear.
You’re not googling every 30 seconds.
The code is flowing and you don’t want to stop.

That’s the vibe.

Vibe Coding is leaning into that state instead of fighting it with over-engineering, premature rules, and 12 tabs of documentation you didn’t need yet.

What Is Vibe Coding (In Plain Dev Terms)

Vibe Coding isn’t a framework.
It’s not “cowboy coding”.
It’s not an excuse to ship garbage.

It’s a way of working where you optimize for:

  • Flow
  • Momentum
  • Mental clarity
  • Enjoyment

You write code that makes sense right now, and you trust yourself to make it better later.

The Core Things That Make Up Vibe Coding

Think of Vibe Coding as a small toolkit, not a philosophy lecture.

1. Momentum Over Perfection

If you stop every 5 minutes to “do it properly”, you kill the idea before it’s alive.

Get it working first.
Make it pretty later.

2. Low Cognitive Load

Your brain has limited RAM.

Vibe Coding means:

  • Fewer abstractions early
  • Fewer files at the start
  • Obvious names over clever ones
  • Straight lines instead of fancy patterns

Simple code = more brain space for the actual problem.

3. Feedback Loops That Are Instant

Fast feedback keeps the vibe alive.

  • Hot reload
  • Live preview
  • Console logs (yes, really)
  • Visual output over theory

If feedback is slow, motivation dies quietly.

4. Code That Feels Readable

Not “enterprise clean”.
Not “leetcode clever”.

Just:

“Yeah… I get what this does.”

Readable code keeps you in flow longer.

5. Emotional Awareness (Underrated Skill)

Vibe Coding includes noticing:

  • When you’re tired
  • When you’re forcing it
  • When flow is gone

Pushing through bad mental states usually creates bad code.

Stopping is a skill.

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How to Actually Practice Vibe Coding (Step-by-Step)

This is the part most articles skip.

Step 1: Start Before You Feel Ready

If you wait for the perfect plan, you’ll never start.

Open the editor.
Create the file.
Write the ugly first version.

Motion creates clarity.

Step 2: Build the “Stupid Version” First

Ask:

“What’s the dumbest possible version that works?”

Hardcode things.
Duplicate code.
Ignore edge cases.

You’re sketching, not painting.

Step 3: Stay in One Mental Mode

Don’t mix:

  • Designing
  • Optimizing
  • Refactoring
  • Naming perfectly

Pick one mode.
Vibe Coding mode = build mode.

Step 4: Let Patterns Appear Naturally

Once you see:

  • Repeated logic
  • Similar components
  • Copy-paste growing

That’s your signal to refactor.

Refactoring before patterns exist is just guessing.

Step 5: Refactor in Short, Focused Bursts

Refactor after momentum, not during it.

  • Rename things
  • Extract functions
  • Clean files
  • Add types/tests

Then stop.
Don’t spiral.

Step 6: Lock It Down Before Shipping

Vibe Coding ends before production.

Before shipping:

  • Handle edge cases
  • Add validation
  • Clean obvious messes
  • Remove debug junk

Vibe ≠ reckless.

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Things That Help the Vibe (Surprisingly Practical)

Environment Things

  • Editor theme you enjoy
  • Font that doesn’t strain your eyes
  • Minimal UI clutter
  • Comfortable keyboard/layout

Your environment affects your thinking more than you think.

Workflow Things

  • One task at a time
  • One screen if possible
  • Notifications off
  • Clear goal for the session

Vibe dies when attention fragments.

Mental Things

  • Accept messy first drafts
  • Don’t judge code too early
  • Don’t compare mid-work
  • Treat coding like writing, not math

Drafts are allowed.

Where Vibe Coding Works Best

Vibe Coding shines in:

  • Side projects
  • MVPs
  • Hackathons
  • UI-heavy apps
  • Learning new frameworks
  • Creative experiments

It struggles in:

  • Safety-critical systems
  • Compliance-heavy apps
  • Massive legacy codebases

Context matters. Always.

VibeCodingWithAI

Vibe Coding With AI (Use Carefully)

AI is amazing for:

  • Boilerplate
  • Scaffolding
  • Explaining errors
  • Unblocking flow

AI is bad at:

  • Architecture decisions
  • Product judgment
  • Knowing your context

Use AI to support the vibe, not replace thinking.

Common Mistakes People Make

  • Never refactoring
  • Using “vibe” as an excuse for chaos
  • Shipping prototypes to production
  • Ignoring tests forever
  • Coding while exhausted and angry

Vibe Coding still requires responsibility.

Final Thought

Vibe Coding is about respecting how humans actually think.

Flow beats force.
Momentum beats over-planning.
Clarity beats cleverness.

Write the code that lets you keep going.

Clean it later.
Ship it when it’s ready.
And enjoy the process — that’s usually where the best ideas show up.

Follow Me : https://medium.com/@dulthiwanka2015

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