What Is Vibe Coding?

And Should You Be Doing It in College?

These days, there’s a lot of buzz around something called vibe coding. You’ve probably seen videos or posts where people describe what they want their code to do, and an AI tool like ChatGPT generates it for them — no deep coding knowledge required. Since this idea is making its way into classrooms, tech circles, and casual conversations, I thought it was important to take a moment to share my thoughts on what vibe coding really is, what it can (and can’t) do, and why it matters for students who are serious about learning to code.

Have you ever asked an AI tool to write some code for you? Maybe something like, "Create a simple calculator app," and — boom — it spits out working code in seconds. You test it, it runs fine, and you're done. That’s the heart of what people are starting to call vibe coding.

The Vibe Behind Vibe Coding

"Vibe coding" is a casual term for writing code using AI tools. You describe what you want — often in plain English — and the AI generates the code. You don’t always know exactly what’s going on behind the scenes, but if the code runs and looks good, it feels like a win.

It’s not about building software line-by-line or deeply understanding each part — it’s more about communicating your general idea and letting the AI fill in the technical blanks. In many ways, you’re acting like a project manager describing a vision to a developer — except now, that developer is artificial intelligence.

Why So Many People Are Using AI to Code

There’s no way around it — learning to code is hard. It’s not just about memorizing syntax; it’s about thinking logically, solving problems, and understanding how different pieces of a program fit together. For beginners, it can be frustrating and sometimes discouraging.

AI tools like ChatGPT or GitHub Copilot can ease some of that frustration. They can help with syntax, suggest structure, and even generate working examples. But while they can speed things up, they don’t remove the need to truly understand what you’re doing. In fact, relying too heavily on AI can make it harder to debug, improve, or explain your code later.

In that context, vibe coding can feel empowering — it gives beginners a way to experiment and build projects without getting stuck on every detail, much like how AI design tools help non-experts start creating right away.

But Here's the Catch: Real Software Isn’t One File (or even a few files)

While building a small project with AI might feel amazing, that’s not how most software in the real world works.

Professional applications — especially those used in healthcare, finance, transportation, or entertainment — are made up of:

  • Hundreds (or thousands) of source code files
  • Hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of lines of code
  • Teams of developers working collaboratively
  • Strict design, security, and testing requirements

In environments like these, vibe coding doesn’t hold up. You can’t just “describe the vibe” of a hospital scheduling system, an airline reservation platform, or a multiplayer online game. You need to know how the system is structured, how each component interacts, and how to debug complex issues — often ones that aren't visible at the surface.

Understanding Matters — Now More Than Ever

The biggest danger of vibe coding is thinking you understand something when you actually don’t.

Even if the AI-generated code appears to work:

  • Is it secure?
  • Is it efficient?
  • Does it follow accepted coding standards?
  • Will it still work when the project scales or grows?

Without a solid foundation in programming, you won’t know if your code is well-written or full of hidden problems. And you might not find out until something breaks — possibly in a very public or costly way.

AI Tools: Useful Assistants, Not Replacements

AI tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful:

  • They save time on repetitive or boilerplate code
  • They offer suggestions when you’re stuck
  • They help you explore and experiment with new ideas

But they are not replacements for actual understanding. These tools are only as useful as your ability to evaluate and refine their output.

As a student, think of AI as a learning companion — not a shortcut. The more you grow as a developer, the more value you’ll get from using these tools responsibly.

Final Thoughts: Learn It Before You Vibe With It

Vibe coding might feel like a shortcut, but real learning still matters. You're in college to build real skills — the kind that last far beyond a single assignment or project.

The future of software development will likely involve AI at every stage of the process. But the developers who thrive in that future will be the ones who can:

  • Understand complex systems
  • Write clean, maintainable code
  • Debug, test, and collaborate effectively

So yes, explore vibe coding. Experiment. Learn from it. But don’t skip over the fundamentals — because when your codebase grows from 50 lines to 500,000, you'll want more than just good vibes on your side.

Cheers!

Dr. Roark