How is Vibecoding Different from Coding?

Traditional coding is like driving a manual transmission car. You control the gears, the clutch, and the RPM. You feel every bump in the road.

Vibe coding is like driving a Tesla on Autopilot. You're still in the driver's seat, hand on the wheel, but you aren't sweating the lane changes.

The Code Comparison

Let's look at a simple task: "Fetch users from an API and list them."

1. Traditional Coding Workflow

• Create User interface.
• Set up useState for users and isLoading.
• Write useEffect to fetch data.
• Handle the JSON response.
• Add a .map() loop in JSX.
• Time taken: 5-10 minutes.

2. Vibe Coding Workflow

• Prompt: "Create a UserList component that fetches from /api/users. Handle loading and error states. Use React Query."
• Review: Check the imports and logic.
• Apply: Hit save.
• Time taken: 30 seconds.

It's Not "No-Code"

This is a crucial distinction. No-code tools (like Bubble or Webflow) hide the code from you. You are limited by their drag-and-drop builders.

Vibe coding gives you the code. You own it. You can edit it. You can deploy it anywhere. If the AI hits a wall, you can jump in and write the manual logic yourself.

Viebcoding = Speed of No-Code + Flexibility of Real Code.

The Skill Shift

The skills required are shifting:

• Old Skill: Memorizing syntax (Array.prototype.reduce, CSS Grid specs).
• New Skill: System design, prompting clarity, and code reading/auditing.

You stop being a "writer" of code and become an "editor" of code.

Which One Do You Need?

You need both. You can't effectively "vibe code" if you don't understand the underlying code. The best vibe coders are actually experienced developers who use AI to skip the boring parts.

Ready to try the hybrid approach?

— The ultimate starter kit for developers who want to vibe code on a professional stack.

Related Questions

• What is meant by vibe coding?
• Is vibe coding good or bad?
• What is NextJS used for?