The Rise of AI Coding Tools and a Dangerous Trend
AI coding tools are everywhere now. They can write code, fix bugs, and even build entire applications. This has led to something called "vibe coding" where people who don't really know how to program try to create software by just asking AI to do everything for them.
While these tools are powerful, there's a big problem with this approach. People who rely on vibe coding without understanding the basics of programming are setting themselves up for failure.
What Is Vibe Coding?
Vibe coding is when two confused entities stare at badly written code together. Just kidding, (kinda). Vibe coding happens when someone uses AI to write code without really understanding what the AI is creating. Instead of learning programming concepts, planning the software structure, or reviewing the code carefully, they just ask the AI to "make an app that does X" and hope for the best.
This might seem like a shortcut to becoming a developer. After all, if AI can write the code, why bother learning to code yourself? The answer is simple: because you need to understand what you're building.
The Mental Model Problem
Good Engineers have something called a "mental model" of their code. This means they understand:
- How different parts of the program work together
- What happens when data moves through the system
- Why certain technologies were chosen
- How to fix problems when they arise
- Where to add new features without breaking existing ones
When you use vibe coding, you never develop this mental model. You might get working code at first, but you have no idea how it actually works.
A Real Example of What Goes Wrong
Consider two people using the same AI coding tool on similar projects:
The Experienced Engineer: This person treats AI like a very junior assistant. They decide what technologies to use, plan out the program structure, and describe exactly what they want the code to do. Most importantly, they read every line of code the AI generates and ask for changes when something doesn't fit their vision. They use AI to speed up typing and refactoring, but they stay in control of all the important decisions.
The Vibe Coder: This person lets the AI make all the decisions. They don't plan the structure, don't specify the logic, and barely read the code that gets generated. They just ask for features and hope the AI figures everything out.
The experienced developer stays productive and maintains a clear understanding of their project. The vibe coder quickly ends up with a mess of code they can't understand or fix.
Why Vibe Coding Always Fails
Here's what happens when people try to build software without understanding programming:
No Foundation: Without basic programming knowledge, you can't tell good code from bad code. The AI might generate something that works today but breaks tomorrow, and you won't know why.
No Debug Skills: When something goes wrong (and it always does), you need to find and fix the problem. If you don't understand the code, you can't debug it. Pasting error messages only gets you so far.
No Architecture Planning: Good software needs good structure. If you don't plan how your program should be organized, you'll end up with a tangled mess that becomes impossible to maintain.
Cognitive Debt: Every shortcut you take by not understanding the code creates "cognitive debt." Eventually, this debt becomes so large that you have to start over from scratch.
The Right Way to Use AI for Coding
AI coding tools are incredibly powerful when used correctly. Here's how real engineers use them:
For Tedious Tasks: AI excels at writing boilerplate code, tests, and documentation. Fixing type errors is an excellent use case.
For Refactoring: AI is great at reorganizing existing code to make it cleaner and easier to understand.
For Learning: You can ask AI to explain code concepts or show you different ways to solve a problem.
The key is that the human developer stays in charge of all the important decisions. AI handles the typing, not the thinking.
What This Means for the Future
Some people worry that AI will replace all programmers. This won't happen because building good software requires more than just writing code. It requires:
- Understanding user needs
- Planning system architecture
- Making technology choices
- Debugging complex problems
- Maintaining and updating existing systems
These skills require deep understanding that you can only get through experience and education.
The Bottom Line
Vibe coding might seem like an easy way to become a developer, but it's actually a trap. People who try this approach will find themselves stuck with broken code they can't fix and problems they can't solve. Sorry to break it to vibe coders, but the youtuber grifted you into paying for a course that won't make you $500k in a week with no coding experience.
Real developers who learn to use AI tools properly will become more productive than ever. They'll be able to build better software faster while maintaining full control over their projects.
If you want to build software, there's no substitute for learning the fundamentals. Start with basic programming concepts, understand how computers work, and practice solving problems step by step. Then, when you're ready, AI tools can make you incredibly powerful.
The future belongs to developers who can think clearly about problems and use AI to amplify their skills. It doesn't belong to people who hope AI will do all the thinking for them.