Vibe Coding: The AI Trend That Has Everyone Thinking They're a Developer

"AI will take our jobs" is a sentiment that's all too familiar in the industry these days. With web development being one of the most AI-integrated sectors, it's no wonder the role of a developer has come under scrutiny. But before we all start panic-applying for barista positions, let's talk about the latest trend that's got business owners thinking they can ditch their dev teams: "vibe coding.”

What is "Vibe Coding"?

Vibe coding is a new approach to software development that leverages AI tools, particularly large language models (LLMs), to generate code by describing desired functionality in natural language. Instead of manually writing code, you simply "vibe" your intentions to an AI tool and watch it translate those instructions into executable code.

And yes, we're calling it "vibe coding" because apparently everything needs to be vibes-based now. ✌🏼 What's next, vibe accounting? Vibe surgery?

The concept sounds beautifully simple: tell an LLM what features you want on your website, watch it generate perfect code in seconds, and boom – you're ready to deploy. It's like having a genie in a bottle, except instead of three wishes, you get unlimited website features... or so the theory goes.

Why Your C-Suite loves this

Let's be honest, from a business perspective, vibe coding sounds like an executive’s dream come true:

• Money saved on outsourcing developers: Why pay professional rates when AI can apparently do it for free?

• Website tailored to exactly your needs: No more trying to explain your vision to a developer who just doesn't "get it"

• Efficiency and convenience of doing it in-house: Complete control over timelines and revisions without external dependencies

On paper, it's a compelling proposition. Who wouldn't want to cut costs while maintaining complete creative control?

The Reality Check

Here's where things get interesting - and by interesting, I mean potentially catastrophic. While vibe coding might look like a silver bullet, the reality is more like a game of digital Russian roulette:

• Creating an insecure app that's vulnerable to attacks: AI doesn't inherently understand security best practices, leaving your application open to cyber-attacks.

• The output from an LLM can sometimes be convoluted and not necessarily correct: Just because it looks like code doesn't mean it's good code, or even working code. It’s also common for outputs to be unnecessarily long and complex, which could means longer load times and slower site speeds.

• AI doesn't read the room (or your codebase): AI-generated components are completely oblivious to your existing setup. It'll ignore your carefully crafted utilities, stored variables, and shared styles. Over time, you'll end up with a codebase that looks like it was assembled by a committee of well-meaning strangers who've never met each other – technically functional, but not cohesive.

• Debugging without development knowledge may confuse things even further: When (not if) things break, you'll be staring at error messages like they're written in ancient hieroglyphics.

• Outsourcing developers to debug once the broken app has already been built can require many hours and may result in a complete start over: Congratulations, you've just turned a straightforward development project into a complex months-long saga.

From personal experience, I've seen countless projects where well-intentioned clients have attempted DIY solutions, only to bring us a digital equivalent of a house built on quicksand. What should have been a three-week project becomes a three-month reconstruction effort.

The Sweet Spot

Don't get me wrong, vibe coding isn't entirely without merit. Like most tools, it's about knowing when and how to use it:

• In the right hands, vibe coding can propel your developers: It allows experienced developers to spend more time on bespoke, quality code instead of boilerplate structure and repetitive tasks.

• Augmentation, not replacement: Think of it as a power tool for developers, not a replacement for their expertise. You wouldn't give a chainsaw to someone who's never cut wood and expect them to build a house.

• Perfect for prototyping and exploration: Create small vibe-coded test projects to discover features you may want to include in your brief, it's like the sketch before the masterpiece.

At Revium, we integrate AI tools with human oversight to ensure that our development processes are both innovative and reliable. This approach allows us to leverage the strengths of AI while maintaining the high standards our clients expect.

Conclusion

Here's the bottom line: don't get too caught up in the hype. While vibe coding may seem like a brilliant cost-cutting measure, it can lead to significant headaches and delays if not managed correctly, not to mention a quickly accumulating tech debt that will end up more expensive in the long run than any initial savings.

There's absolutely a time and a place for AI-assisted development...but you should probably leave it to the professionals.

Remember, humans cannot be replaced by AI when it comes to the strategic thinking, problem-solving, and experience that turns a functional website into a business asset. Vibe coding is a tool, not a replacement for expertise. The question isn't whether you can build something with AI. It's whether you can build something that actually works, is secure, scales, and serves your business goals.

So by all means, embrace the technology, but do it wisely. Partner with developers who understand how to harness these tools effectively, rather than going it alone and hoping for the best. Your future self (and your budget) will thank you.

Want to learn how AI can best be implemented at your organisation? Take a look at our AI Kickstart program.