For years, the way we built software followed a predictable pattern: define the requirement → architect the solution → write the logic → code everything manually. Every feature moved through this long journey from idea to implementation.
But today, AI has introduced a new way of thinking and building one that doesn’t replace developers but amplifies them. A shift we are embracing as a team.
This shift is called VIBE Coding.
1. What Exactly Is VIBE Coding?
VIBE Coding is a development approach where natural-language instructions replace much of the manual scaffolding traditionally required to begin building software.
Instead of writing every line from scratch, a developer describes the requirement in plain English, just like writing a user story:
“Build a shopping page with colorful product listings using React and Next.js.”
From there, AI tools generate:
- the basic structure
- front-end and back-end scaffolding
- components
- routing
- boilerplate logic
- initial data structures
In the traditional flow, this sequence looked like:
User Story → Design → Architecture → Manual Coding
With VIBE Coding, it becomes:
User Story → Natural Language Prompt → AI-generated First Version → Human Review + Refinement
The thinking doesn’t disappear. The logic doesn’t disappear. But the repetitive layers of coding do.
Developers move from “typing code” to “shaping the system,” using AI as an accelerator.
2. Why VIBE Coding Matters Today
Developers Can Delegate More Work to AI, If They Refine the Requirements Well
The true strength of VIBE Coding is not speed—it is delegation.
Developers can offload significant portions of the work to AI when they refine the requirement with clarity around:
- security needs
- infrastructure costs
- coding standards
- third-party frameworks and integrations
- architectural choices
- business constraints
AI tools can read documentation, analyze constraints, and even raise questions the team hasn’t considered yet.
When developers keep themselves aware of evolving technologies and product offerings, they can provide richer context enabling AI to generate code that is much closer to a real-world production implementation.
This unlocks two powerful outcomes:
- Developers grow faster, focusing on deeper thinking and design rather than repetitive tasks.
- Teams scale better, because engineering output is amplified through clarity and intentionality.
VIBE Coding isn’t about removing developers—it’s about elevating them.
3. The Most Common Misconceptions About VIBE Coding
Misconception 1: “AI Removes the Need for Human Review.”
This is the most dangerous assumption.
AI may generate code, but it can also hallucinate, miss edge cases, and introduce security gaps. Developers must validate:
- logic
- security
- performance
- architecture alignment
- stack-specific conventions
Surface-level functionality may appear correct, but deeper issues often emerge without human oversight.
Misconception 2: “Anyone Can Code Anything With AI.”
VIBE Coding does not convert a React developer into a Django expert, or a Python engineer into a Next.js specialist overnight.
AI cannot compensate for a lack of foundational understanding.
Developers still need:
- intermediate knowledge of their chosen stack
- clarity on server-side vs client-side rendering
- understanding of framework idioms and production behavior
Without these foundations, AI-generated code may look correct but fail under real-world complexity.
4. How We Want the Tech Team to Implement VIBE Coding
We want to adopt VIBE Coding with structure, discipline, and clarity, not as a free-for-all. The goal is to empower developers, improve quality, and accelerate delivery while maintaining strong engineering practices.
Skill Threshold Before Using VIBE Coding : Before using AI-assisted development, developers must demonstrate intermediate skill in their chosen technology stack.
This includes:
- strong fundamentals in proven algorithms
- understanding of OWASP security practices
- familiarity with SOLID principles and clean-code standards
Frameworks and tools may evolve, but these principles remain constant. Without them, developers cannot guide AI effectively or validate the correctness of AI-generated output.
Clear Prompting Standards : Prompts must be precise and include:
- preferred framework and language
- architectural decisions (e.g., server-side vs client-side components)
- coding conventions and constraints
- integration points with third-party tools or systems
Better prompts produce better code.
Mandatory Review, Testing, and Documentation : Every AI-assisted code contribution must go through:
- senior developer or architect review
- unit testing
- QA validation and sign-off
- proper documentation and version control
No AI-generated code should reach production without human oversight.
This balanced approach ensures velocity and quality go hand in hand.
5. AI as an Exoskeleton, Not a Replacement
A helpful analogy:
Imagine climbing a mountain.
Your legs represent your skills—your understanding of programming fundamentals. The AI is an exoskeleton—a support system that amplifies your strength and speed.
The exoskeleton is powerful, but useless without legs. AI enhances the developer—it doesn’t replace reasoning, judgment, or accountability.
VIBE Coding is this exoskeleton—helping us think better, build faster, and scale responsibly.
Closing Thought
VIBE Coding represents a new era of software development:
- Intentional
- Prompt-driven
- Human-guided
- AI-accelerated
It allows us to scale, experiment, and deliver with greater clarity while strengthening engineering discipline.
AI can generate code. Humans give it meaning, structure, and purpose.
This is the future we’re building toward one refined requirement, one thoughtful prompt, one human review at a time.
Discover more from Reflections by Mohan Natarajan
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.