Vibe coding means building software by describing what you want to an AI and judging the result, without writing the code yourself. It works well for prototypes and simple sites. It breaks on security, accessibility and long-term upkeep unless someone reviews the code. Vibe code the draft, then review before launch.
This page is part of my guide on how to use AI to design a website.
What is vibe coding?
Andrej Karpathy named it in a post on X on 2 February 20251. He described coding by talking to an AI, accepting its changes and judging only the running result. He also said it suits "throwaway weekend projects"1. The term spread fast. Collins Dictionary made it its Word of the Year for 20252.
Design has its own version now. Google calls its Stitch workflow "vibe design", starting from intent and mood instead of wireframes3.
Is vibe coding the same as using AI to design a website?
It's one way to do it. Vibe coding is the loose end of a range.
| Approach | You write code | You read code | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibe coding | No | No | Prototypes, personal projects |
| AI-assisted building | Rarely | Yes, key parts | Business sites |
| AI pair programming | Yes | Yes | Complex apps |
Most professional developers still don't work this way. In Stack Overflow's 2025 survey, 72% said they weren't vibe coding4.
How do I vibe code a website?
- Write the brief. Audience, goal, pages, proof, voice. The AI website brief builder does it in five minutes.
- Pick a tool. Lovable, Bolt, v0 or Figma Make for code you can export. See AI website builders compared.
- Generate the first version from the brief in one prompt.
- Iterate one change at a time. Look, describe what's wrong, regenerate.
- Connect real content. Your copy, your images, your forms.
- Review before launch. This is the step vibe coding skips, and the one that matters.
I teach this loop in workshops with tools like Lovable and Stitch. The first five steps take an afternoon. The sixth decides whether the site lasts.
Where does vibe coding break?
Security
You can't see a security hole on the screen. Veracode tested more than 100 models in 2025 and found security flaws in 45% of coding tasks5. Its 2026 follow-up reported that security pass rates had barely moved6. Forms, logins and databases need a reviewer.
Accessibility
The page looks right, so nobody checks contrast, labels or keyboard use. The web it learned from fails WCAG checks on 95.9% of top home pages7.
Upkeep
Each prompt adds code. Without review, files pile up, styles conflict and fixes start breaking other parts. A site that took an afternoon can take weeks to untangle six months later.
How do I vibe code safely?
- Keep a DESIGN.md. One file of rules every prompt follows.
- Use the platform's auth and database rules, never hand-rolled ones.
- Sync to Git. Every working state is a commit you can return to.
- Run the launch checklist before real users arrive.
- Get a ten-minute code review on anything that touches data or money.
If you want your team to vibe code with a safety net, I set up the system and train people to run it. See website design.
Questions people ask
Who coined the term vibe coding?
Andrej Karpathy, a co-founder of OpenAI and former director of AI at Tesla, in a post on X on 2 February 2025. Collins Dictionary named it Word of the Year for 2025.
Can I vibe code a business website?
Yes, for the first version. Before customers use it, review the security, accessibility, facts and speed. A business site needs those checks however it was built.
What are the best vibe coding tools for websites?
Lovable, Bolt and v0 for sites and apps with code you can export. Figma Make if you start from a design. Google Stitch for exploring layouts before you build.
Is vibe coding safe?
It's safe for prototypes and sites without user data. Anything with logins, payments or personal data needs a code review, because AI-written code often contains security flaws you can't see.
What is vibe design?
The design side of the same idea. You describe intent, mood and outcome, and the AI proposes screens. Google uses the term for its Stitch design tool.