Andrej Karpathy, formerly of OpenAI and Tesla, coined the term vibe coding in early 2025 to describe a mode of software development where the developer guides an AI model in natural language rather than writing every line of code by hand. The developer holds the vision, evaluates the output, and directs the iteration. The AI does the typing.
This is not the same as no-code tools or drag-and-drop builders. Vibe coding produces real, production-quality code — TypeScript, Python, SQL, React — that can be deployed, maintained, and extended. The developer provides the intent, domain knowledge, and quality bar. The AI provides speed.
For businesses, the implications are significant. Custom software that previously required a team of engineers and months of development time can now be scoped and delivered in days. The barrier to entry for custom tooling has dropped dramatically, and it is not coming back up.
Dune Commerce uses vibe coding as a core part of its tool-building practice. We build dashboards, internal applications, workflow automations, and AI-enhanced features using this approach. The speed advantage is real: what used to take four to six weeks often takes four to six days. That is not an exaggeration — it is the current state of the technology.
The most common misconception about vibe coding is that it sacrifices quality for speed. In practice, the opposite can be true. Faster iteration means more opportunities to test with real users, incorporate feedback, and refine the product. Dune Commerce builds vibe-coded tools that are production-ready, maintainable, and designed to last.
Frequently asked questions
What is vibe coding?
Vibe coding is a term coined by Andrej Karpathy in 2025 to describe AI-assisted software development where a developer guides an AI model using natural language to produce working code. The developer provides intent, direction, and quality review; the AI generates, iterates, and refines the code. The result is dramatically faster development timelines and lower costs compared to traditional software engineering.
Who coined the term vibe coding?
Andrej Karpathy coined the term vibe coding in early 2025. Karpathy is a computer scientist and AI researcher who previously co-founded OpenAI and led AI at Tesla. He used the term to describe a new development paradigm in which developers work in natural language alongside AI models to produce software.
Is vibe coding production-ready?
Yes. Vibe coding produces real code in standard programming languages — TypeScript, Python, SQL, React, and others — that can be deployed to production environments, maintained over time, and extended as requirements change. Dune Commerce has delivered numerous production tools built using this approach.
What can be built with vibe coding?
Vibe coding can be used to build almost any type of web application, internal tool, automation, or integration that traditional software development can produce. Common examples include dashboards, internal applications, API integrations, workflow automations, data pipelines, and AI-enhanced features. The primary difference is speed: vibe coding delivers these outputs significantly faster than traditional development.