4/25/2025

Getting Past Vibe Coding Frustrations: My Experience

Vibe coding is a recent development in the programming world that has been gaining traction for allowing individuals to create software solutions by leveraging AI capabilities instead of traditional coding techniques. While it’s exhilarating to see AI assist us in building applications, many of us experience frustrations during the process. The realm of technology is filled with ups & downs, and I’m here to share my experience diving into vibe coding, the hurdles I faced, and how I managed to overcome them.

The Rise of Vibe Coding

Vibe coding, or vibecoding, is a coding approach that heavily relies on artificial intelligence to generate software. The term was modernized by Andrej Karpathy in 2025, where he described how this method enables even amateur programmers to build functional applications through simple natural language prompts. However, as I delved into this new frontier, I quickly learned that this exciting method isn’t without its challenges.

Getting Started with Vibe Coding

I began my vibe coding journey by experimenting with several AI platforms. I dove into projects such as creating a plane simulator, a Star Wars game, and even a zombie shooter game. However, after investing over 50 hours on these endeavors, I realized that while the initial excitement was palpable, the frustrations soon crept in.

Here are some of the key issues I faced:

Misinterpretations by AI: Despite making specific prompts, the AI often misunderstood my requests, leading to outputs that didn't meet my expectations.
Debugging Nightmares: While vibe coding prioritizes simplicity, it’s easy to end up with messy code, making debugging a tedious task.
Inconsistency in AI Outputs: There were times the AI produced differing answers for similar questions, leading to confusion and uncertainty in working with generated code.

Navigating My Frustrations

1. The Power of Context

One crucial lesson I learned was to provide detailed context when working with AI. The more information I shared upfront about what I wanted to achieve, the less frustrating the process became. For instance, I began to include pertinent documentation or even source links directly associated with the coding requests. This tactic proved to be immensely beneficial as AI could better understand the context (like asking it to refer to the Tailwind CSS v4 documentation when formatting styles or hooks).

2. Simplicity is Key

Simplifying my coding stack was another game-changer. Using ThreeJS for simple game development routes often yielded better results than more complicated frameworks or libraries. Embracing minimalism allowed me to focus on creating rather than getting bogged down in unnecessary complexity. I found that in many cases, sticking to the basics of client-side local storage was all I needed to power my projects.

3. Embracing Feedback Loops

One of the MOST important ways I dealt with the constant frustrations was by establishing a feedback loop in my projects. By sending my AI-created code snippets to friends or on coding forums, I gained valuable insights and suggestions for improvement. Someone once said, "Two heads are better than one!" This couldn’t be truer when you’re trying to figure out nuances that AI may not have grasped fully.

Tools Enabled My Success

I wouldn’t have made as much progress without various tools & resources at my disposal:

Github for Version Control: Using Github to keep track of changes in my code helped immensely. In the vibes of coding, a single flawed change can cascade into serious issues. With Git, I could easily rollback to a previous version and avoid debugging pain.
Cursor Rules: I began using Cursor to set global project-specific rules that guided how the AI behaved while coding. Knowing I had a system to communicate preferences produced confidence while working.
Daily Stand-ups with Fellow Coders: Having regular check-ins with fellow vibe coders helped keep motivation alive while maneuvering through challenges. Sharing individual progress, frustrations, and solutions created a collaborative and productive environment.

The Mental Side of Vibe Coding

Another layer to my frustrations was the psychological impact of using AI-assisted coding. Often, I felt the imposter syndrome creeping in—wondering if I was a legitimate coder if I depended on AI assistance. But I dispelled this largely negative mindset by reminding myself:

Learning is a Journey: I was continually improving my skills, even if the focus shifted more towards guiding AI rather than traditional coding.
Vibe Coding is a Skill: I realized that being able to effectively communicate my ideas and requests to AI is a skill in itself, one that enhances my capabilities.
Community Support: Engaging with other vibe coders on platforms like Reddit connected me with people who shared similar experiences, reminding me that I was NOT alone.

Into the Future

As I now reflect back on my experiences with vibe coding, I’m genuinely excited about the future. Though I faced many challenges, I used them as stepping stones to enhance my skills and find a deeper understanding of coding concepts.

If you’re also on this vibe coding journey, fret not. The hurdles you face are a natural part of the process! As you gain confidence, you’ll find methods that work best for you to ease those frustrations.

Improve Your Vibe Coding Experience with Arsturn

Speaking of enhancing your coding experience, I discovered that using custom chatbots can take your interactions to the next level. By utilizing Arsturn, you can create AI-driven chatbots that engage your audience effectively. Here’s what Arsturn offers:

Instant Engagement: Create chatbots without any coding skills, perfect for maintaining dialogue with users.
Customize: Use your own data to customize chatbots tailored to your brand's identity.
Insights & Analytics: Gain insight into audience behaviors, refine strategy based on preferences, & improve customer satisfaction.

With Arsturn you can effortlessly keep your audience engaged while you tackle the complexities of vibe coding. Try it out at Arsturn.com to unlock the power of conversational AI.

As my vibe coding adventure continues, I’m eager to embrace the challenges & celebrate every victory—big or small. So go ahead, dive in, keep learning, & let’s vibe code our way to success!