4/25/2025

Building with Vibe Coding: Lessons from Real Projects

In the ever-evolving world of technology, new methodologies like vibe coding are changing how we approach software development. Coined by the brilliant mind of Andrej Karpathy, vibe coding revolves around harnessing AI to create applications by focusing more on the conceptual aspects than the nitty-gritty details of coding itself. This blog post delves into the lessons learned from real vibe coding projects, showcasing how individuals are navigating this new paradigm, complete with tips, insights, and the tools that are making this dream a reality.

What is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding refers to the process of utilizing AI-assisted tools to develop software with minimal traditional coding. It emphasizes the idea of "giving vibes," which means communicating a vision or desired outcome to an AI, rather than writing out every line of code. As intriguing as it sounds, this methodology raises various questions about the effectiveness, reliability, and ultimate impact it has on software development.

Real-World Examples of Vibe Coding Projects

Let’s explore some actual projects that have successfully implemented vibe coding. Through these examples, we’ll identify key innovations, challenges, and insights that came from the realization of these ideas.

1. NicolasZu's Flight Simulator

One remarkable project was the flight simulator created by NicolasZu, which demonstrates the potential of vibe coding for building immersive experiences. Through thousands of AI prompts, the project illustrates how vibe coding can embrace both creativity & technology.

Key Learning: The importance of iterating with AI. Each prompt refined the simulator’s capabilities and improved user interaction.
Flexibility Factor: Vibe coding allowed for rapid modifications and testing, enabling significant changes to be made based on feedback in real-time.

2. AI-Assisted Coding with Cursor

In another notable example, a small business used Cursor to develop a new application within mere weeks. The team focused heavily on how they could communicate their requirements to the AI tool, which generated code snippets based on the instructions they provided.

Key Insight: Clear, concise instructions to the AI yielded better results. Ambiguity led to unexpected and often confusing code outputs.
Recommendation: Use context with programming languages; for example, “Create a function that returns a user profile in JSON format.” This clarity significantly enhances AI performance.

3. Building Interactive Websites

Using tools like Replit and other vibe coding platforms, various entrepreneurs crafted small yet effective web applications without prior programming knowledge. The process became collaborative and conversational with AI acting as a coding assistant.

Lesson Learned: Continuous testing and validation while building ensures that even vibe-coded projects don’t accumulate technical debt. Regularly engage the AI to address any inconsistencies or bugs.

4. Community Impact: Substack Example

Projects often emerged from the community, such as those shared on platforms like Dev.to, emphasizing the neighborhood aspect of vibe coding. Engaged developers and newbies documented their experiences, showcasing lessons learned & tool suggestions.

Emerging Theme: A sense of community develops around vibe coding as users share successes & failures, ultimately creating a collaborative environment where knowledge is pooled.

Key Tools for Vibe Coding

The beauty of building with vibe coding lies in the plethora of tools available now! Let's look through essential tools you can leverage for effective vibe coding:

Cursor
- This platform offers an expansive environment where coders can interact with AI to craft code snippets. Cursor’s Composer feature enhances collaboration through conversation, making it user-friendly for beginners as well.
Replit
- Useful for creating prototypes quickly, this platform allows users to write code directly in a browser without substantial setup.
Tempo
- A tool that offers PRDs and flow diagrams as part of the software design process.
Lovable
- This tool is fantastic for beginners looking for a user-friendly interface to build applications, featuring built-in authentication.
Windsurf
- Similar to Cursor, it supports collaborative development and provides a smooth coding environment.

Overcoming Challenges in Vibe Coding

Despite its advantages, vibe coding isn’t without challenges. Here's how to address some common issues:

Context Management: AI may lose sight of the broader project context as complexity increases. Regularly summarizing key components and functions for the AI can help retain this focus.
The Honeymoon Phase: Many new users experience a fantastic allure when starting vibe coding; remember, this enthusiasm can fade. Ensure continual engagement & understanding of the process so that the novelty doesn’t drift into disillusionment.
Technical Debt: As exciting as it is to create rapidly, unmonitored vibe coding can lead to messy, unmaintainable code. Introduce steps to review and refactor the code, ensuring basic coding standards are upheld.

Promotion: Transform Your Projects with Arsturn

If you’re inspired by the possibilities vibe coding has to offer, consider using Arsturn. With Arsturn, you can instantly create custom ChatGPT chatbots for your website, enhancing engagement and boosting conversions effortlessly.

User-Friendly Interface: Arsturn lets you design sophisticated chatbots without code, making it ideal for beginners or those working on side projects!
Flexible Adaptability: Perfect for businesses, influencers, or even individuals looking to leverage chatbot capabilities for quick engagement.
Customizable Experience: Tailor your chatbot to reflect your brand’s unique identity, ensuring a seamless user experience across all platforms.

Enhance your productivity today by exploring the power of conversational AI with Arsturn! Claim your chatbot now — there’s no credit card required!

Conclusion: Moving Forward with Vibe Coding

Vibe coding provides an innovative approach to software development, driven by the capabilities of AI. The success stories emerging throughout the community showcase that even a minimal understanding of code can lead to meaningful creations. With proper context management, iterative learning, and the right tools, anyone can embark on their coding journey, transforming ideas into reality.

So, are you ready to vibe code? Get started today, explore all the vibrant tools available, and share your experiences with your fellow builders. Happy coding!