Vibe Coding: When development suddenly becomes ‘easy’ – and why this is just the beginning

What is Vibe Coding?

Vibe Coding refers to a dialogue-oriented approach to software development. Instead of writing code line by line, you describe the desired outcome in natural language – and an AI model generates code, components or entire functional workflows from this. The focus shifts from syntax and framework details to intention: what should happen, what rules apply and how should it behave from the user’s perspective?

 

The term was coined in 2025 by Andrej Karpathy (a founding member of OpenAI) when he wrote on X: “I just see stuff, say stuff, run stuff, and copy-paste stuff, and it mostly works.”

 

The workflow is almost always the same loop: prompt → generate → execute → inspect → refine, until the behaviour is right.

 

Vibe Coding is not a single tool, but a spectrum ranging from AI-powered prompts and visual builders to low-code and no-code platforms. Each approach offers speed, but also has its own limitations.

Can anyone code now?

From a technical point of view: yes. From a business perspective: not necessarily.

 

There is a significant difference between ‘works on my screen’ and ‘runs stably within the company’. Business-critical software must integrate into existing system landscapes, process data accurately and support defined processes.

 

However, AI-generated code does not automatically take into account security policies, compliance requirements or internal architectural principles. If the results are adopted without being checked, the risk of security vulnerabilities, faulty logic or uncontrollable dependencies increases. Technical debt often accumulates invisibly until scaling, internationalisation or system integration are required.

 

The real problem is not the technology. The risk arises where speed is confused with strategy.

Why Spec-Driven Development Makes All the Difference

Vibe Coding only realises its full potential when it is based on a clear foundation: defined requirements, documented architectural decisions and clearly formulated acceptance criteria – in short: specs.

 

Spec-driven development means clarifying, before implementation, what is to be built, why, and under what conditions. This preparatory work may sound like extra effort, but in practice it is quite the opposite. This is because AI assistants such as GitHub Copilot or Claude work much more precisely with clear guidelines. Requirements that are available as structured specs can be passed on directly as context. This means that generated code fits better into the system landscape and review cycles become shorter.

 

This approach is particularly crucial in the context of agent-based workflows, i.e. AI systems that perform tasks autonomously. Agents need clear rules of the game. Without specs, they produce results quickly, but not necessarily correctly.

 

So anyone relying on Vibe Coding should always do so in tandem with spec-driven development:

• Vibe Coding for speed, exploration and iteration
• Specs as a safety net for quality, scalability and maintainability

Fast doesn’t necessarily mean right: Why expertise still matters

The real change brought about by Vibe Coding is not that development is disappearing, but that it is becoming more accessible. This is precisely why the focus is shifting: away from mere implementation towards the question of what actually makes sense to implement.

 

Digital solutions are no longer created in isolation, but as part of complex ecosystems. Particularly in the context of corporate websites and digital experience platforms, the aim is to combine content, data and technologies in such a way as to create a consistent, personalised and scalable experience.

 

At RYZE, we deliberately use Vibe Coding as a tool, for example during the concept phase, in prototyping or in iterative development processes. At the same time, we ensure that this speed is built on a solid foundation: through structured requirements, clear architectural decisions and experienced developers who understand, test and take responsibility for the generated code.

 

Our aim is not to automate as much as possible, but rather to find the right application for it.

Conclusion: Between hype and reality

Vibe Coding is more than just a short-lived trend. It is transforming the way digital solutions are created: faster, more accessible and more experimental than ever before. Yet it is precisely this speed that makes a clear direction all the more important.

 

Successful digital projects are not based solely on working code, but also on well-thought-out requirements, stable systems and clear strategic objectives. Spec-driven development and Vibe Coding are not mutually exclusive, but rather complement each other.

 

Vibe Coding makes many things easier. But a good digital experience still arises from the interplay of strategy, structure and technology.