Moriam Akter Swarna

Posted on Dec 28 • Originally published at firebird1.Medium

What Is Vibe Coding? A Practical Guide to AI-Assisted Development

#webdev #programming #ai #javascript

Introduction

A few months ago, I got stuck on a very small feature.

Nothing fancy.
Just a form, some validation, and a clean UI.

I knew exactly what I wanted to build.
But my brain felt tired.

I kept switching tabs—documentation, Stack Overflow, old projects.
Everything felt slow.

Then I tried something different.

Instead of writing code, I wrote what I wanted in simple English.
I pasted it into an AI tool.

The code came back.
And surprisingly—it worked.

That moment didn’t make me feel replaced.
It made me feel… relieved.

That’s where vibe coding started to make sense.

Not as magic.
Not as cheating.

But as a new way of thinking about development.

What Is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding is a workflow, not a tool.

It means you focus on your idea and intent, and let AI help translate that into code.

You’re not writing every line by hand.
You’re guiding the code.

Think of it like this:

Traditional coding: “I write code, then test.”
Vibe coding: “I explain my idea, then refine the code.”

You still control the logic.
AI just helps with execution and speed.

A Simple Example

Traditional approach:

Think about the layout
Write HTML
Add CSS
Fix spacing
Debug responsiveness

Vibe coding approach:

You write:

“Create a responsive landing page with a navbar, hero section, and footer using clean HTML and modern CSS.”

AI gives you a starting point.

Now you:

Read the code
Modify it
Improve it

You’re still coding.
Just faster and with less mental pressure.

Why Developers Are Adopting Vibe Coding

Most developers don’t struggle with logic.

They struggle with:

Getting started
Writing the same boilerplate again and again
Remembering syntax
Mental fatigue after long sessions

Vibe coding helps maintain momentum.

When you’re in flow, you code manually.
When you’re stuck, AI helps you move forward.

It’s like having a junior developer who never gets tired.

Example: Boilerplate Fatigue

Instead of manually writing this every time:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8" />
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
  <title>Project</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" />
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>

You can prompt:

“Create a basic HTML boilerplate for a responsive webpage.”

You save time without skipping understanding.

A Real Coding Workflow Example (Todo App)

Let’s say you want to build a simple Todo App.

Instead of jumping straight into code, you start with intent.

Step 1: Describe the idea

“I want a simple todo app using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Users can add, delete, and mark tasks as completed.”

Step 2: Review the output

AI generates something like:

<input id="taskInput" placeholder="New task" />
<button id="addBtn">Add</button>
<ul id="taskList"></ul>

And JavaScript:

const input = document.getElementById("taskInput");
const list = document.getElementById("taskList");

document.getElementById("addBtn").addEventListener("click", () => {
  if (!input.value) return;

  const li = document.createElement("li");
  li.textContent = input.value;
  list.appendChild(li);
  input.value = "";
});

You don’t stop there.

Step 3: Refine

You ask:

“Refactor this using event delegation and add delete support.”

Now you’re learning while building.

That’s vibe coding.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Mistake 1: Trusting AI Blindly

AI can:

Miss edge cases
Use outdated patterns
Overcomplicate simple logic

For example:

const add = (...nums) => nums.reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0);

This works—but for beginners, it’s unnecessary.

Clear is better:

function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}

Always ask why.

Mistake 2: Skipping Fundamentals

AI won’t save you if you don’t understand:

Semantic HTML
CSS box model
JavaScript basics

Vibe coding amplifies skill.
It doesn’t replace it.

Mistake 3: Writing Vague Prompts

Bad prompt:

“Make a website.”

Good prompt:

“Create a responsive blog layout with a sidebar and main content area using Flexbox.”

Clear input produces better output.

Myths Around Vibe Coding

“AI Will Replace Developers”

No.

AI replaces tasks, not thinking.

Companies hire people who understand systems—not people who type fast.

“Junior Developers Shouldn’t Use AI”

Wrong.

Junior developers should:

Use AI
Learn faster
Ask better questions

The key is learning, not copying.

“It Kills Creativity”

It actually removes boring parts.

You spend more time on:

UX decisions
Architecture
Problem solving

That is creativity.

Practical Tips for Effective Vibe Coding

1. Start With Intent, Not Code

Before opening your editor, ask:

What am I building?
Who is it for?
What should it do?

Then write the prompt.

2. Break Problems Into Small Prompts

Instead of:

“Build a full-stack app”

Do:

“Design the database schema”
“Create REST API endpoints”
“Build frontend UI”

Smaller prompts give better control.

3. Always Refactor AI Code

Ask yourself:

Is this readable?
Is this necessary?
Can I simplify it?

AI output is a draft, not the final version.

4. Use AI as a Code Reviewer

Paste your own code and ask:

“Review this JavaScript code and suggest improvements for readability.”

Example improvement:

if (user?.isLoggedIn) {
  showDashboard();
}

You learn modern patterns through review.

5. Keep a Prompt Journal

Save good prompts.

They become reusable tools.

Over time, your prompts improve—just like your code.

When You Should NOT Use Vibe Coding

Avoid AI when:

Learning syntax for the first time
Practicing algorithms
Preparing for interviews
Debugging deep logical bugs

Example:

function reverseString(str) {
  let result = "";
  for (let i = str.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    result += str[i];
  }
  return result;
}

That struggle matters.

Use AI after, not before.

How Vibe Coding Changed My Learning

I don’t feel blocked anymore.

If I don’t know something:

I ask
I test
I adjust

I build more projects.
I experiment more.

And most importantly—I finish things.

Finished projects matter more than perfect code.

The Future of Vibe Coding

This isn’t a trend.

It’s a shift.

Just like:

IDEs replaced text editors
Git replaced zip files

AI-assisted development will become normal.

The best developers will be:

Strong in fundamentals
Clear in communication
Comfortable guiding AI

An Honest Conclusion

Vibe coding won’t make you a developer overnight.

But it will:

Reduce fear
Increase momentum
Speed up learning

Use it wisely.

Learn deeply.
Build honestly.
Question everything.

If you treat AI as a partner—not a crutch—you’ll grow faster than ever.

And that’s what really matters.

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