You might have heard that “vibe coding” has been named Collins Dictionary’s word of the year for 2025. If you’ve been agreeing and smiling whenever this term comes up, it could be time to understand its meaning.

So, what does vibe coding entail? In a nutshell: Vibe coding refers to utilizing AI to develop applications, software, and code — no previous programming knowledge necessary. Just articulate what you wish to build using natural language or voice commands, and the AI will generate the code for you. While still a fairly new concept, it has garnered significant attention this year. It seems like everyone is on board. Or, at least, it might appear that way.

In February 2025, former OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy shared a tweet that ignited a transformation in coding and software development. The term he coined, “vibe coding,” has since proliferated online at a rapid pace. The latest GPT-5 model from OpenAI also aims to cater to the vibe coding enthusiasts.

So, what does this novel coding approach involve?

Vibe coding 101

<pAccording to Karpathy, vibe coding is simply the use of AI to handle your coding tasks. For instance, you'd conceive an idea and then instruct the AI to code it. Subsequently, you'd examine the code, and any alterations or corrections you desired would be communicated back through the AI repeatedly until everything aligns perfectly.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The coder does not need to engage in actual coding; instead, they use natural language to convey the code, website, or application they wish to create. The sensation of relinquishing pre-existing ideas and allowing AI to manage all aspects is described as “fully giving into the vibes” by Karpathy. Any adjustments proposed by the AI are automatically embraced and integrated into the code. No deliberations, just vibes.

This has garnered both supporters and critics. On one side, individuals like Karpathy have wholeheartedly adopted AI’s capability to generate code and allow it to undertake the challenging tasks while contentedly investigating what AI can and cannot accomplish at its limits. Conversely, some have criticized the practice, arguing that code produced this way is frequently opaque and erratic, claiming that proficient engineers have a solid grasp of their own code.

How can I start vibe coding?

It’s genuinely quite straightforward. If you have access to an AI chatbot, you can begin vibe coding immediately. It’s essential to approach it with a clear understanding of what you need to achieve. For instance, many have recommended ensuring you have a strong and clear vision of what you want your code to accomplish before starting, as this will help the AI generate improved code. Mashable offers a tutorial for vibe coding.